The New Jersey Devils entered Game 3 of their Eastern Conference First Round Series against the New York Rangers trailing 0-2. Nothing worked in the first two games for this young rebellious Devils team playing with a cause. But changes needed to happen, especially between the pipes. Enter Akira Schmid.
Akira Who you may ask? Akira Schmid, the Devils fifth-round draft pick from 2018 from Bern, Switzerland making his playoff debut in Madison Square Garden in Game 3. Talk about a tense situation. While Vitek Vanecek did not play poorly in the first two games, the Devils needed a calming presence between the pipes.
Schmid was precisely that and more for the Devils in Game 3. New Jersey is back in the series after Dougie Hamilton scored his first of the series in overtime to propel the Devils to victory.
It was also the first five-on-five goal for the Devils in the series.
He would be lying to you if he said he was not nervous, however, he did not let the moment get to him.
“Yes, very,” Schmid said post-game with a smile when asked how nervous he was. “I just try not to show it.”
Talk about a playoff debut. In Game 3 against the Rangers, Schmid stopped 35 shots, including 12 high-danger zone chances. He was never out of position on any of the shots he faced. His presence and zen-like calmness allowed his teammates to feel comfortable to go play their game. That is something Schmid has done all season for the Devils.
“He’s stone cold, no pulse, always relaxed and poised,” Jack Hughes said post-game. “We have a lot of confidence in Schmid coming in. He showed everyone how good he is, and we’d like him to keep that going.”
While the nerves might have been there, you would never know it by his positioning. His rebound control was on point as it has been all year. Schmid has been called upon numerous times this season to right the ship for the Devils.
“He’s been great all year. He’s so steady and so calm,” Dougie Hamilton went on to say said post-game, “He showed it again (Saturday) coming to MSG in his first playoff game and to play like that, is pretty impressive.”
Schmid has been this way all season for New Jersey ever since taking over as the backup when Mackenzie Blackwood went down earlier in the year. Last season, Schmid played in six games, but he was not ready for primetime. This season however Schmid saw his workload increase and his numbers as well. In 18 games, Schmid had a 2.13 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.
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While the Devils coaching staff debated heavily the decision to make the switch, based on numbers and the second half of the season, the Devils had to go to Schmid. Trailing 0-2 in the series, what do you have to lose?
All indications pointed to Schmid going into the lineup after the morning skate. Then when warmups came, there was Schmid leading the team out onto the ice. Again he never let the moment get too big for him despite taking over the starters role for Vanecek.
“It’s always tough coming into a situation like this, but you just treat it like any other game, I guess,” Schmid said. “That’s kind of how I am; that’s just how I’m built. The guys did a great job helping me out, blocking shots, which makes my life easier.”
This was the exact calmness the Devils needed, who have been road warriors all season long. New Jersey played a good road game. Their penalty kill was much better going five-for-five. It was the first time in the series the Rangers did not score a power play goal. Of the 35 shots he faced, six came on the powerplay, including two in the high-danger area. He also stopped all eight shots he faced in overtime.
The only goal he gave up was in the second on a good shot by Chris Kreider. Kreider now has five in the series. But the Devils showed a good response as Jack Hughes tied the game on the first power-play goal of the series for the Devils.
However, for the first time in the series, the Devils dictated play. They also made better decisions with the puck. One thing New Jersey needs to work on is taking offensive zone penalties. Still too many, but this time it did not cost them. New Jersey has found home to be the road and they kept things simple.
This was a must-win game for the Devils or else if they went down 0-3, the series was going to be over. It will be interesting to see if Luke Hughes gets into the lineup. He can add another dynamic to the Devils breakout that is missing.
For now, the Devils and Akira Schmid can enjoy this victory as the Devils have made it a series.
Note: The 22-year-old Akira Schmid is the third rookie to start a playoff game in New Jersey history, joining Sean Burke (1988) and Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur (1994).
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