Oh, how the tables have turned – and Devils goaltender Akira Schmid is a big part of it. After taking a beating in the first two games, the series has shifted for the New Jersey Devils. A confident New York Rangers team was headed back home with a 2-0 series lead. However, like The Undertaker entering the arena the Devils went on to flip the script. The team is scoring goals, but a big share of this is due Akira Schmid.
Devils Goaltender Akira Schmid Shinning As Series Moves to Game 6
Akira Schmid Has Shut The Door
It is never easy to be down 2-0 in a series and come back. Tougher feats have been accomplished, even by this Devils franchise. But like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the New Jersey Devils have taken a 3-2 series lead. After being embarrassed and outscored 10-2 in the first two games, New York has managed just two goals. Lindy Ruff made a goalie change and gambled by replacing Vitek Vanecek with 22-year-old rookie Akira Schmid. The change had paid enormous dividends and the Devils have the Rangers on the brink of elimination. But what has made Devils goalie Akira Schmid so special in this rivalry series?
Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Schmido the Torpedo is what the guys are calling him. The number in the crease is 40 not 39. However, it really does feel like Martin Brodeur is in net for the Devils. Ever since having his name called, he has been everything you can ask for. In addition, he has gone toe to toe with Igor Shesterkin, who has been great in every game of this series. Shesterkin leads the league in Goals Saved Above Expected. And as good as he had been, the Devils have managed to get the better of him as of late. However, the same can not be said for the Rangers against Schmid.
His Performance In The Series So Far
Devils goalie Akira Schmid has been everything you could ask for. He is calm, collected, has good body position, and is positionally aware. Schmid has stifled the Rangers who have found the back of the net twice since he took the blue paint. As a team, New York has an xGoals for 8.21. Of their 82 shots thrown on the net, only 16 are from the high-danger area of the ice. In addition, New York has a lowly 40.59 xGoals percentage. They’ve been wildly outplayed, and when they have the puck on their sticks they aren’t capitalizing.
Going into an opponent’s arena down 2-0 is not easy. Not to mention it is the first playoff game of your lifetime. Instead of being rattled, Schmid stole the spotlight. Both games at MSG were tight contests, and Schmid shut the door. Schmid went on to stop 57 of 59 shots and rocked an absurd 0.92 GAA and a .964 save percentage. In addition, he has 2.9 goals saved above expected in those two starts.
As CooOOoooL as a cucumber…SCHMID-O! pic.twitter.com/v2fWc66xE6
— Devils on MSG (@DevilsMSGN) April 28, 2023
Not only was he calm and composed in the two road games, but he also rocked The Rock. Prudential Center was rocking and for good reason. Ondrej Palat kicked things off 39 seconds into the game and eventually won the game overall. But it was Devils goalie Akira Schmid who gets the credit. Schmid went on to stop all 23 shots he faced to secure a 4-0 shutout victory. That is now 80 of 82 shots he has faced this postseason. What is most impressive is his .938 high-danger save percentage. New Jersey has been good about limiting the Rangers in the area, but Schmid has shut the door when he has had to. What is great about Schmid is he becomes the third goalie in history to record a playoff shutout victory.
Riding The Rookie
Devils Goalie Akira Schmid has been more than just a good story. You can make the argument he is the reason the series is now in the team’s favour. Looking at the underlying numbers, New Jersey has been the better team, but the Rangers had their way to start the series and are now searching for answers. With the Rangers on the brink, they’ll need to think fast about how to get the best of Schmid to force Game 7. Game 6 is Saturday Night at 8:00 PM.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
