Schmid stopped 36 of 39 Carolina shots Thursday. It was not enough, however. The Devils took a season-ending 3-2 loss in overtime.
Schmid was Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde in his nine postseason appearances. He could follow a 31-save shutout by allowing three goals on 11 shots. He may be the goaltender of the future in New Jersey, but the postseason left managers with more questions than answers about Schmid.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Expected to start Thursday
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Schmid is set to guard the road crease against Carolina in Game 5 on Thursday.
New Jersey is going back to Schmid after Vitek Vanecek allowed 11 goals on 57 shots over the Devils' last three contests. Schmid has a 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage in eight playoff outings this year, but he has struggled recently too, surrendering eight goals on 48 shots over his last three outings. Carolina has averaged 3.70 goals per game in the 2023 postseason.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Makes 11 saves in relief
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Schmid kicked out 11 of 12 shots in relief in a 6-1 loss to Carolina in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Vitek Vanecek surrendered five goals on 17 shots before being pulled midway through the second period. Schmid was beaten by Jordan Martinook towards the end of the second frame, but he was great the rest of the way. Schmid, who wasn't charged with the loss Tuesday, has a 4-3 record, 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage in eight playoff outings this year. It wouldn't be surprising to see Schmid start in Game 5 on Thursday, given how badly Vanecek has struggled in the postseason.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Gets pulled in loss to Carolina
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Schmid allowed four goals on 25 shots before being pulled in New Jersey's 6-1 loss to Carolina in Game 2 on Friday.
Schmid was strong in the first period, but after surrendering four goals on 16 shots in the second, Vitek Vanecek was put in net for the third frame. Although Schmid posted a 4-1 record, 1.38 GAA and .951 save percentage in five contests from April 22-May 1, he's now been yanked in each of his last two appearances and was charged with both losses. Schmid's recent struggles might result in Vanecek starting Sunday.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Guarding cage Friday
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Schmid will get the starting nod in Carolina for Game 2 on Friday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
After an impressive series against the Rangers, Schmid was blitzed by Carolina in Game 1. He coughed up three goals on 11 shots and was yanked shortly after the start of the second period. The team has faith that he can turn the series around and will send him back out for Game 2 on Friday. Schmid is 4-2 with a .935 save percentage in six postseason appearances.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Gets hook in Game 1
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Schmid was pulled from Game 1 against the Hurricanes on Wednesday after allowing three goals on 11 shots. He took the loss in the 5-1 defeat.
Schmid got the hook after the Devils fell behind 3-0 just 1:55 into the second period. The 22-year-old goalie won four of the final five games in New Jersey's first-round series against the Rangers while allowing only seven goals, but Carolina had little trouble figuring him out. It remains to be seen if the Devils go with Schmid or Vitek Vanecek -- who allowed one goal on 11 shots Wednesday -- in Game 2 on Friday.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: In goal Wednesday
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Schmid will guard the road goal in Game 1 of the Devils' second-round series versus the Hurricanes, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Schmid has won four of his five starts during the postseason, adding an impressive 1.38 GAA and a .951 save percentage. The 22-year-old was able to guide the Devils to the second round, and he'll look to keep rolling against the Hurricanes.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Bounces back in Game 7
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Schmid stopped 31 shots in Monday's 4-0 series-clinching win over the Rangers.
Following a down performance in Game 6, Schmid returned to form in Game 7, stopping all 31 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the postseason to help the Devils advance to the second round. The 22-year-old Schmid finished the series 4-1-0 with a stellar .951 save percentage. He'll look to keep rolling in the second round when New Jersey takes on Carolina.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Tending twine Monday
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Schmid will patrol the home crease Monday in Game 7 against the Rangers, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Schmid surrendered five goals on 29 shots in Saturday's 5-2 loss to New York. He has a 3-1 record this postseason, giving up seven goals on 111 shots. The Rangers rank last in the playoffs this year with just 27.3 shots per game.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Struggles in Game 6
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Schmid stopped 24 of 29 shots before being pulled in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers in Game 6 on Saturday.
It was Schmid's first bad outing of the playoffs. The 22-year-old played a huge role in the Devils winning their previous three games by saving 80 of 82 shots in that span. New York solved him Saturday, though, beating Schmid once in the first period and twice in each of the second and third frames. After Braden Schneider put the Rangers up 5-1 midway through the third period, Vitek Vanecek stepped into the contest. Still, given Schmid's overall success in this series, New Jersey might go back to him for Game 7 on Monday.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Facing Rangers
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Schmid will defend the road crease versus the Rangers on Saturday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Schmid has been sensational in the playoffs, winning three straight games after the Devils lost their opening two contests with Vitek Vanecek between the pipes. Schmid has given up only two goals on 82 shots in the last three games after a promising regular season during which he was 9-5-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Moves to 3-0 in postseason
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Schmid made 23 saves in a 4-0 shutout win over the Rangers on Thursday.
Schmid turned aside all 23 shots faced in a shutout victory over the Rangers, giving the Devils a 3-2 series lead. The 22-year-old Schmid has been spectacular since taking over for Vitek Vanecek before Game 3, winning all three starts with a stellar .975 save percentage. Schmid will almost certainly be back between the pipes Saturday as the Devils look to close out the series.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Expected to face Rangers
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Schmid is slated to guard the home crease in Game 5 against the Rangers on Thursday, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Schmid has come up big for the Devils, stopping 57 of 59 shots to lead New Jersey to back-to-back victories and even the first-round series at 2-2. The 22-year-old goaltender was effective in the regular season too, posting a 9-5-2 record, 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage in 18 outings. Although Schmid has contained the Rangers, Vitek Vanecek started in the first two contests of the series, and New York scored 10 goals in that span.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Stymies Rangers again
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Schmid stopped 22 of 23 shots in Monday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
Schmid was excellent again Monday, allowing one goal on 23 shots as the Devils evened the series 2-2. The 22-year-old Schmid has won back-to-back road starts, allowing just two goals on 59 shots since replacing Vitek Vanecek in the crease prior to Game 3. Schmid made 18 starts in the regular season, going 9-5-2 with a .922 save percentage. He'll almost certainly be back in goal for Game 5 in New Jersey.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Slated to start
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Schmid is expected to guard the road goal Monday against the Rangers in Game 4, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Schmid is coming off a 35-save performance in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Rangers. He was impressive in his first Stanley Cup Playoff start, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Devils will go back to him for Game 4.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Turns in strong effort in win
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Schmid stopped 35 of 36 shots in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Rangers in Game 3.
Schmid got the nod after Vitek Vanecek was on the wrong side of 5-1 losses in each of the first two games of the postseason. For now, that looks like a smart move from head coach Lindy Ruff, as Schmid's performance Saturday gave the Devils life, though they're still down 2-1 in the series. It's reasonable to assume Schmid will get the nod again in Monday's Game 4.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Confirmed to start
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Schmid will guard the road goal in Saturday's Game 3 versus the Rangers, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
The Devils' starting goalie was said to be a game-time decision despite Schmid going through the typical starter's routine during the morning skate. He'll start anyway, putting him in line for his first NHL playoff appearance. He was solid in the regular season with a 9-5-2 record, a 2.13 GAA and a .922 save percentage over 18 games. If Schmid can get a win Saturday, the 22-year-old might run away with the starting job after Vitek Vanecek struggled in the first two games of the series.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: First goalie off ice Saturday
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Schmid was the first goaltender off the ice Saturday, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
This is usually an indication as who the starting goaltender is, but coach Lindy Ruff said that the starting goaltending decision will be a game-time decision. The Devils are down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series with Games 3 and 4 in New York, so Ruff could switch things up and go with Schmid rather than No. 1 goaltender Vitek Vanecek. Schmid was 9-5-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage this season.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Earns OT win in relief
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Schmid stopped all 20 shots he faced in a 5-4 overtime win over the Capitals on Thursday.
Schmid entered the game in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood early in the second period with the Devils trailing 4-1. The 22-year-old Schmid was superb, turning aside 20 shots while New Jersey rallied with three unanswered goals to force overtime, where they'd eventually come away with the win. Schmid will finish the regular season 9-5-2 with a .919 save percentage, making a case to back up Vitek Vanecek in the playoffs.
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Devils' Akira Schmid: Up with Devils
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Schmid was called up by New Jersey on Thursday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Schmid has an 8-5-2 record, 2.24 GAA and .918 save percentage in 17 contests with New Jersey in 2022-23. With the playoffs around the corner, the Devils might opt to rest Vitek Vanecek and instead have Schmid serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup for the Devils' season finale against Washington on Thursday.
