Vanecek signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract with the Devils on Tuesday.
Recently acquired by the Devils via trade from the Capitals on July 8, Vanecek recorded 20-plus wins in each of his first two NHL campaigns while posting a .908 save percentage. Now entering his third season at the top level, the Czech netminder should challenge for the No. 1 role in New Jersey with Mackenzie Blackwood, who struggled to the tune of a 3.39 GAA and .892 save percentage in 25 appearances last year.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Headed to New Jersey
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Vanecek was acquired by the Devils on Friday along with Washington's second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for New Jersey's second- and third-round picks.
Vanecek will likely slot in as a high-usage backup behind Mackenzie Blackwood in New Jersey. While his playing time could be similar, Vanecek will be going from a Washington team that has been a staple in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to a New Jersey team that has made the postseason only once in the past decade.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Gets qualifying offer
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General manager Brian MacLellan indicated during Wednesday's press conference that Vanecek will receive a qualifying offer, Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic reports.
Vanecek and fellow netminder Ilya Samsonov are both arbitration-eligible during their restricted free agency this offseason, which could precipitate some tough choices for a Capitals team looking for stability in net and reinforcements up front given the long-term injuries to Nicklas Backstrom (hip) and Tom Wilson (knee). The 26-year-old Vanecek posted a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage behind a 20-12-6 record in 42 games during the 2021-22 season.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Yanked after two
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Vanecek allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Ilya Samsonov in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Panthers.
Vanecek couldn't repeat his excellent performance in Game 1, allowing five goals in the first two periods before he was replaced by Ilya Samsonov to start the third. It remains to be seen which goaltender will get the starting nod for Game 3 in Washington. Vanecek posted a 20-12-6 record with a .908 save percentage during the regular season.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Starting Game 2
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Vanecek will guard the road goal in Thursday's Game 2 versus the Panthers, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek pulled off an improbable Game 1 win Tuesday, stopping 30 of 32 shots to give the Capitals a 1-0 series lead. He'll look to repeat the effort Thursday, though the Panthers have lost just eight games at home all season including Tuesday.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Wins series opener
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Vanecek made 30 saves in Tuesday's 4-2 Game 1 win over the Panthers.
At least for one game, Washington was able to hold the vaunted Panthers offense at bay. Vanecek gave up a goal in the first and another in the second but shut the door in the third as the Capitals scored three unanswered goals to take Game 1 on the road. After his strong performance in the series opener, Vanecek will likely retain the starting job over Ilya Samsonov for Thursday's Game 2.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Starting against Panthers
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Vanecek will be in goal for Game 1 versus Florida on the road Tuesday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek will get the nod over Ilya Samsonov but his hold on the starting job should be considered tenuous at best. For his part, Vanecek played in 42 games this year in which he posted a 20-12-6 record with four shutouts and a .908 save percentage.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Allows five in loss
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Vanecek stopped 21 of 26 shots in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Islanders.
Vanecek didn't get much help in the loss with three of the Islanders' five goals coming on the power play. The 26-year-old netminder has struggled in April, posting a 3-2-1 record with an .875 save percentage. Vanecek will look to right the ship as the Capitals prepare for the playoffs.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Between the pipes Thursday
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Vanecek will get the start on the road Thursday against the Islanders, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.
Vanecek will try to right the ship after conceding three goals on 30 shots during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs on April 24. Vanecek has been struggling of late with a 3.32 GAA and .882 save percentage behind a 4-2-1 record over his last eight games, but with the starter's role in the postseason still up for grabs, the 25-year-old has a strong incentive to flip the switch.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Blows two-goal lead late
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Vanecek stopped 27 of 30 shots through overtime in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to Toronto.
Vanecek failed to hold Washington's two-goal lead in the third period, allowing the tying goal in the final minute to Jason Spezza. Spezza beat him again in the first round of the shootout, and while Vanecek proceeded to stop the next five shooters, Alex Kerfoot's successful attempt in the seventh round won it for Toronto. This performance likely didn't move the needle much for Vanecek's case to start over Ilya Samsonov in the postseason.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: In net versus Toronto
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Vanecek will start Sunday's game against the Maple Leafs, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Vanecek shut out the lowly Coyotes in his last start but will face a much stiffer test against a Toronto team that's averaging 3.81 goals per game. Coach Peter Laviolette said he will continue to evaluate Washington's goalies down the stretch, so Vanecek's performance in this game could help decide whether he or Ilya Samsonov will man the Capitals' crease for Game 1 when the playoffs get underway.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Earns fourth shutout of season
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Vanecek posted a 19-save shutout in Friday's 2-0 win over the Coyotes.
This was a low-event game at the end of the Capitals' road trip, and Vanecek was able to cruise to his fourth shutout of the season. The 26-year-old has earned the win in three of his last four outings, but it's been a bit of a shaky stretch for him with nine goals allowed in the first three of those appearances. He improved to 20-11-5 with a 2.60 GAA and a .910 save percentage through 40 outings. Both Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov struggled against the Maple Leafs last Thursday, but one of them will have a chance to redeem themselves as the Capitals host the Leafs on Sunday.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Starting in Arizona
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Vanecek will guard the road cage during Friday's matchup with the Coyotes, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.
Vanecek wasn't great in his last start Saturday versus Montreal, surrendering four goals on 32 shots, but he was still able to come away with a win thanks to strong goal support from his teammates. He'll try to secure a second straight victory in a favorable road matchup with an Arizona team that's averaging just 2.47 goals per game at home this season, second worst in the NHL.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Two straight wins after rough patch
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Vanecek made 28 saves in Saturday's 8-4 win over Montreal.
He has won his last two starts but is 3-4-0 in his last seven starts. Vanecek has been splitting starts with Ilya Samsonov, who is 5-1-0 in six starts in the same span. But Vanecek was the hotter hand with a 6-0-1 record in the first half of March. Yikes. The next two weeks may nail down the team's Game 1 starter for the playoffs, as neither goalie has been consistently great this season.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Starting versus Habs
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Vanecek will guard the road goal Saturday versus the Canadiens, Mike Vogel of the Capitals' official site reports.
Vanecek will get the start after making a relief appearance Thursday versus the Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old has struggled with a 3.97 GAA and an .868 save percentage in his last seven outings, so he could be a risky option for fantasy managers even against a lackluster Canadiens team.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Appears in relief
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Vanecek made 10 saves in relief Thursday in a 7-3 loss to Toronto.
He entered the game after William Nylander's second goal at the 10:37 mark. Vanecek wasn't really the answer, either. He allowed three more goals on 13 shots. Neither netminder has been strong enough to guarantee himself the role of top dog heading into the postseason. And that makes the Caps a long shot to advance past Round 1.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Nabs win over Bruins
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Vanecek made 28 saves in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Bruins.
Boston took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period, but Vanecek shut the door the rest of the way while the Washington offense got rolling. The 26-year-old goalie looked refreshed after not playing since April 3, and he probably needed the break after posting a 3.42 GAA and .891 save percentage in his prior 10 appearances.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Will start Sunday
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Vanecek will start Sunday's game against the Bruins, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Vanecek ceded the net to Ilya Samsonov in Washington's last two games, but he will be back in goal for Sunday's matinee. Vanecek has faced Boston twice this season -- once as a starter and once in relief -- and has served up seven goals while posting an .854 save percentage.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: Receives no help in loss
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Vanecek allowed four goals on 18 shots in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Wild. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
After five days off, the Capitals were slow out of the gate -- the Wild had a 2-0 lead just 1:37 into the game. Vanecek didn't face many shots, and he wasn't sharp enough when called upon. The 26-year-old has lost four of his last five games -- that's enough of a skid to potentially allow Ilya Samsonov to claw back some playing time. Vanecek is at 17-11-5 with a 2.60 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 36 outings overall, just one appearance shy of his total from last season.
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Capitals' Vitek Vanecek: On track to start
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Vanecek is slated to start between the pipes in Sunday's home game versus the Wild, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.
Vanecek struggled in his last start Monday versus the Hurricanes, surrendering five goals on just 23 shots before being replaced by Ilya Samsonov at the start of the third period of the eventual 6-1 loss. He'll try to shake off that lousy performance and secure his 18th win of the season in a home matchup with a Wild team that's averaging 3.29 goals per game on the road this year, 10th in the NHL.
