Devils' Keith Kinkaid gets rookie treatment in long-awaited NHL return

Keith Kinkaid will have to wait a little bit longer for that ever-elusive first NHL start. But a decision, well, he's got that now. 

The New Jersey Devils journeyman backup goaltender pulled an NHL jersey over his shoulder pads for just the third time in his career Thursday with the belief he would start the next night in Detroit. However, when the Devils found themselves well behind against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Pete BeDoer put Kinkaid in the game to preserve starter Cory Schneider. 

As it goes, Kinkaid allowed a single goal on four shots and suffered his first decision - a loss - as the Devils scored twice late.

"I figured that would happen," Kinkaid said via Rich Chere of NJ.com. "They took him out to give him some rest. He's the starter and we need to win games. It's obviously disappointing, but my shot will come. I'm going to be patient here. I'm not entitled to anything."

Kinkaid knows he suffered a bad beat, but the journeyman goaltender was still able to poke a little fun at himself - even at the backend of consecutive losses to the Blues. 

"I kind of made a joke to (Schneider) on the bench after the game. I wouldn't say joke because it's unfortunate we got the loss, but I said, 'That's one way to get your first NHL loss.'"