Vitek Vanecek

Vitek Vanecek benched for Game Three as Akira Schmid gets first playoff start

Former Capital Vitek Vanecek is out of the starters’ net for New Jersey. Akira Schmid earned his first career playoff start in Game Three against the New York Rangers.

The Devils have floundered in their first two playoff games, losing both at home with a score of 5-1. Vanecek has only a .827 save percentage in that span, giving up nine goals on 52 shots. He served as the team’s backup as the series moved to Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

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By Katie Adler 1 month ago

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A very bad night for ex-Caps goalies, Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov

The Washington Capitals are not in the playoffs, but two of their former backstops are, and they both got smoked on Tuesday night.

New Jersey Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek gave up four goals in his team’s loss to the Rangers. Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov gave up six goals before he was pulled against the Lightning.

So two ex-Caps goalies combined to allow 10 goals on 51 shots.

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By Peter Hassett 1 month ago

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Vitek Vanecek honored by Capitals during return game to Capital One Arena

Former Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek was honored by the team during his return game to Capital One Arena on Thursday night.

The Capitals saluted Vanecek during the first TV timeout in the first period.

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By Ian Oland 3 months ago

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Vitek Vanecek won’t start against Washington Capitals in first return to DC

Vitek Vanecek will not start against the Washington Capitals in his first game back at Capital One Arena with the New Jersey Devils, Thursday. Instead, Akira Schmid will be in net for New Jersey per NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti.

It’ll be Schmid’s second start in a week after a shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and his first career start against Washington.

Schdmid has posted a.926 save percentage in 12 games this season, ranking third among all goalies with 10 or more games.

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By Katie Adler 3 months ago

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Ilya Samsonov endures ‘shoot to the balls’ to beat Vitek Vanecek in first head-to-head matchup: ‘We still the friends’

The Washington Capitals jettisoned their young goaltending tandem this past offseason as they non-tendered former first-round pick Ilya Samsonov and traded former second-round pick Vitek Vanecek.

The two goalies and former close friends in Hershey quickly moved on to new teams as Samsonov signed a free-agent deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vanecek settled into the starting spot in the New Jersey Devils net.

Despite being on Eastern Conference teams, Sammy and Vitek avoided a direct matchup against one another until Tuesday night. The Leafs and Devils did battle inside Prudential Center and Samsonov came out on top in a 4-3 victory.

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By Chris Cerullo 3 months ago

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Vitek Vanecek has started referring to himself in the third person during interviews: ‘I’m really proud of the Vitek. I hope he gonna keep going.’

Former Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek is absolutely on fire right now. The 27-year-old Czech is currently riding a nine-game winning streak for the New Jersey Devils and in the month of January he holds an 8-0 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

While Vitek’s fantastic, recent play has definitely drawn a bit of a spotlight on him, the former second-round draft selection has added a quirk during interviews that is also getting him some attention off the ice.

He has started answering some questions in the third person.

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By Chris Cerullo 4 months ago

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Vitek Vanecek slaps Rangers player in face after getting bumped in crease

Former Capital Vitek Vanecek just had the best month of his hockey career. Vanecek led the New Jersey Devils to a 13-win November — the first time a team has ever earned that many victories in November in NHL history (13-1-0). According to NHL PR, only four teams in NHL history have had more wins in a single month: COL (15 in Jan. 2022), BOS (15 in March 2014), PIT (15 in March 2013), and CBJ (14 in Dec. 2016).

Vanecek won eight of those November games for the Devils and his latest W came Monday night against the New York Rangers. Vanecek stopped 35 of 38 shots against New York (.921 save percentage) to help the Devils win 5-3.

But I’d also like to call attention to something else Vanecek did for the first in his NHL career.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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The Capitals’ 5-1 loss to the Devils was a case study on the bigger problems wrong with the team

The Washington Capitals thoroughly outplayed the Metropolitan Division-leading New Jersey Devils on Saturday night when considering every major offensive statistic. The Capitals dominated the Devils in 5v5 shot attempts (60-33) and scoring chances (34-19). The Capitals generated 4.2 expected goals to the Devils’ 2.2 per HockeyViz.com. And at all strengths, the Capitals had 81 attempts to the Devils’ 38, putting 38 shots on goal to the Devils’ 29.

The Capitals got blown out where it matters though — the scoreboard — 5-1. There are some explanations that are obvious. Vitek Vanecek had a revenge game and went into god mode, posting one of his best outings of the season. The Devils’ blocked 26 of the Capitals’ shot attempts, clogging up the center of the ice. And New Jersey capitalized on what chances they did have, shooting 17.3 shooting percent during the game.

Those are all things that made the game frustrating to watch as a Capitals fan. You want to excuse the game as unlucky and say to yourself — if the Capitals played every game like this, they’d be one of the top teams in the league.

But I’d caution you to do so. While there are legitimate excuses for some of the Capitals’ scuffling early this season (injuries to Tom Wilson, Nicklas Backstrom, and Dmitry Orlov to name a few), I’ve also noticed strategy and deployment decisions that are hampering the team. I thought Saturday’s game against the Devils was a case study for some of those issues.

So let’s talk it out.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Darcy Kuemper versus the ex-goalies, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek

Yesterday we ran a story about Vitek Vanecek and the New Jersey Devils’ absurd winning streak. Afterwards, on Discord, Ian and I had a little spat about how responsible Vanecek has been for the Devils’ success. For the record, Ian was perfectly correct when he said that Vanecek has been “no-doubt buoyed by a Devils team that is one of the best in the NHL early in the season.”

In reply to our story, we received a genre of comments that I call “should of kept.” This can apply to any player who has left Washington and gone on to enjoy success. To compare their performances to that of their replacements in Washington is understandable. It’s inevitable to do it. I do it. Actually, let’s all do it right now.

Let’s compare Washington’s old goalies, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, to their new number-one, Darcy Kuemper.

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By Peter Hassett 6 months ago

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Vitek Vanecek is 7-0-0 during the New Jersey Devils’ long winning streak: ’10 in a row. It’s really really big’

Over the summer, Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan parted ways with the team’s two young goalies. Ilya Samsonov was non-tendered a qualifying offer and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs while Mac traded Vitek Vanecek to upstart division-rival New Jersey.

It was a sink-or-swim moment for both goaltenders. But two months into their stays with their new teams, both are swimming.

The most recent example of success is Vitek Vanecek, who started the season slowly but is now flourishing under an easier workload under the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils, who missed the playoffs last season, have won 10 straight games and rocketed into first place in the Metropolitan Division. During seven apperances during that stretch (starting October 25), Vanecek is 7-0-0 with a 1.40 goals against average and .946 save percentage.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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