Akira Schmid has his own net at the Devils morning skate. Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood are sharing a net.
Akira Schmid has his own net at the Devils morning skate. Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood are sharing a net.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 22, 2023
by JerseyDvl
34 Comments
Good, let’s see Hughes and Bahl in the game too.
It’s happening!
It’s not all Vitek’s vault and nothing will matter if Wood and Smith are still in the lineup to hand out free power plays.
But it’s happening!
Godspeed Akira, hope the team in front of you help you out
Good. I’m happy with this decision. Nothing against V2 but the boys in front need a wake up call
Vitek is far from the reason Games 1-2 went the way they did, but we just have to see something different and throw up a hail mary
Some reasons why Games 1-2 went the way they did, Lindy Ruff edition: Ruff refusing to use a timeout thus far in the series, terrible lineup decisions, failure to establish and solidify lines BEFORE the playoffs started, inability to adjust to the Rangers, and defiance to let us play our speed game and abandon what made us successful to play a physical game which we very clearly cannot do. Dude’s a clown straight up
Pleeeeease Schmid. I know we are all excited for him but I’m keeping it tempered. He’s blown games in the first before. He’s exciting but not as consistent as VV, but for sure a higher ceiling.
Hey thats great! But still not sure why we wouldnt give him a look late in game 1 or especially 2.
Wish Luke Hughes was playing now. Want to get the kid playoff experience so he’s not a total playoff rookie next season
I know vitek hasn’t been perfect but Ruff is comitting like every basic mistake in playoff hockey. He didn’t establish lines to roll with consistently, now potentially switching who is in net in game 3? Seriously, when’s the last time a team went the distance juggling goalies? Or when’s the last time a team went the distance after switching them even? This team still has a ways to go, but it still hurts to see. Hoping to be wrong here. Schmid is obviously not a bad goalie but he’s also not entirely seasoned…
Akira has came in clutch for all us year, this is his chance to own that starter spot if we can win back the series!
I don’t know about this one..
Statistically, Schmid has been our best goalie this season. The sample size is limited, but he played very well in his 18 games. Out of 65 goalies with 18+ GP, he was 6th in goals saved above expected per 60. Only Ullmark, Saros, Swayman, Sorokin, and Gustavsson were better. His save percentage (.922) was 4th behind Ullmark, Gustavsson, and Sorokin. I think this is the right decision. Let’s hope he can handle the pressure.
And let’s hope Ruff ices the best possible team in front of him. Wood and Smith need to be out but yesterday’s lines and pairings at practice were concerning. Please make the smart decision.
I’m clenching so hard right now.
Guys. I’m gonna wear my hat hat today instead of my reverse retro hat. Doing that combined with Schmid in goal should be a pretty big shake up for the team. 👍🏼
Now just put Luke in and we can watch him and Schmid compete for the conn smythe
Schmid may not be the answer and we very well may lose 5-1 again due to special teams/coaching/scoring but I think he gives us a better shot to win than VV at the moment.
SCHMIIIIIIIIIIID
Down two in the series and changing goalies. Akira’s about to go on a Cam Ward 2006 run!
Here comes 16 straight wins
I think this is necessary. Vitek has been a huge reason for the big turnaround, but they need to make some lineup adjustments to change some momentum. Schmid has definitely earned a chance to see some playing time.
Hey Akira, I know we’re asking a lot from you. But please be our savior.
Sending Akira down to the AHL lost us the division. He’s our best goaltender in my eyes. I think Blackwood would of had to clear waivers which is why they sent Akira back? Either way, I am hoping he can provide a spark tonight and make a few clutch/big saves that get this team going and give us some momentum. I love VV but in 5 career playoff games… man those stats are not good. Definitely got no defensive help from the Devils in those 2 games, but it’s time to see what this Swiss Ninja has in the playoffs. I am excited I think? Can he overcome the Smith/Wood effect? TUNE IN AT 8 TO FIND OUT!
The part of this I disagree with is that we should have put Schmid in at the start of the third period of game 1 or 2 to light a fire under the team and see how he performed. Switching him in now is the worst of both worlds – it shatters Vitek’s confidence and risks the untested goalie in a high stakes situation. If Schmid saw the net in the third period of game 2, it would have alleviated both of those issues.
SIEGENTHALER
Stop me if I’m wrong, but is this Viteks first time as an everyday starter. Seems like some fatigue at the end
5-1 in both games is not indicative of how Vanecek played…..2 have been empty net and 6 have been on penalty kills when we’ve given up bad penalties….and I believe 4 or 5 of those were deflection in front of the net. He’s played well 5 on 5 and has stopped alot of high percentage chances…..I like Schmid but the 10 goals in 2 games allowed is a byproduct of us not clearing the net, turning the puck over, and committee penalties not poor goaltending. I still believe our best chance is with Vanecek in the line up.
Akira playing tonight and his insane level of calmness and how he literally never looks flustered is going to just make me more anxious and stressed watching! Even though I love him and am p pumped to watch him play ❤️
ETA: I am still also very proud of the vitek
Schmid is a starter tonight.
I will buy an authentic Schmid jersey if he pitches a shutout tonight.
Hopefully this channels 1994. Down 0-2 to Boston, Lemaire replaces Brodeur with Terreri, they then win the next 4.
Time to bless the saves made by Akira
This is how legends are born. By being thrown straight into the fire.
LETS FUCKING GO, IF YOU CAN SAVE A PUCK YOU CAN SAVE A BROOM, I BELIEVE IN YOU AKIRA
Not viteks fault