Two weeks ago, as the hockey world got its first glimpse of the first-round series between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, there was one goalie at the centre of the story.
And it wasn’t Akira Schmid.
While Schmid sat on the bench, backing up Devils starter Vitek Vanecek for the first two games of the Hudson River Rivalry, all eyes were on the man at the other end of the rink: Igor Shesterkin, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner and last spring’s star of the Rangers’ run to the Eastern Conference Final.
And while Shesterkin once again lived up to every expectation, backstopping the Rangers through high-scoring wins in Games 1 and 2 and keeping them in contests when the goal-scoring ran dry, there was another netminder stepping into the spotlight, ready to steal the show. As we are reminded every single spring, playoff hockey has a funny way of bringing out the most unlikely of heroes.
And this year, in this round, in this rivalry, and in this resounding Game 7 victory to send the Devils to Round 2 and a date with the Carolina Hurricanes, it was Schmid.
Before Devils head coach Lindy Ruff turned to Schmid ahead of Game 3, the 22-year-old rookie backup had just 14 starts to his name this season and 18 overall since being selected in the fifth round in 2018. In the five starts since that decision, Schmid has a 4-1 post-season record, a 1.39 goals against average, a .951 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts to his name after blanking the Rangers in Game 7’s 4-0 win to send New York packing.
He’s the fifth rookie in league history to post a shutout in a Game 7 and the second goaltender in New Jersey Devils franchise history to earn a Game 7 shutout, joining the one and only Martin Brodeur.
Monday’s performance was his best outing yet, making 31 saves to clinch the series and propel the Devils on to Round 2 for the first time in 11 years. That it came on the heels of his worst — a five-goal loss that could’ve rattled the rookie, but instead saw him rebound — made it all the more impressive.
Monday night’s victory in Newark saw a few other unlikely contributors for the home team. Michael McLeod tucked in the first goal of the night while shorthanded after a sensational steal by Ondrej Palat — a proven playoff performer from his time in Tampa Bay, whose experience and clutch play came up big Monday night with a pair of helpers. Tomas Tatar and Jesper Bratt also scored their first goals of the post-season, while Erik Haula’s goal — a stunning one-timer on the rush that beat Shesterkin glove-side — was his fourth of the series.
The victory brought a lot of firsts for a lot of young players, and it also brought a first for their veteran head coach, Lindy Ruff, who in his fifth career Game 7 got his first-ever Game 7 win.
Devils outpace, outwork Rangers’ biggest stars
A recurring theme in all seven games, even before Schmid made his mark: These Devils are fast — and fast and loose when it comes to taking penalties. But while the Ranger’s Chris Kreider-led power-play made them pay early in the series and in Game 6 to stay alive, it couldn’t cash in Monday night despite a handful of early opportunities.
Instead, it was New Jersey that scored on the Rangers’ power-play, Palat outworking New York’s blue liners before setting up McLeod. It was New Jersey that feasted on every misstep from the Rangers, forcing errors like misplaced drop passes, broken-up zone entries, an inability to sustain pressure with any kind of consistency and far too many turnovers. And when New York needed its biggest stars to step up, no one did.
It’s not just about the Game 7 shutout. All series, we saw a similar story — Kreider led the way with six goals, followed by Vladimir Tarasenko’s three, but the rest of the top six was quiet. Noted playoff performers like Mika Zibanejad and newcomer Patrick Kane each had just a single goal all series, while Artemi Panarin was held goalless. Shesterkin’s masterful performances could only propel the club so far, and their early exit prompts questions about what’s next — particularly when it comes to names like Tarasenko and Kane. It should be an interesting summer in New York.
Jacob Trouba’s hit on Meier deemed legal, but should it be?
Another story to watch in New York will be whether Rangers captain Jacob Trouba hears from the NHL’s player safety department over his massive open-ice hit that toppled Devils forward Timo Meier in the third period of what was at that point a 2-0 game. The hit, which sent Meier’s glove flying and saw him lay on the ice a few moments before getting up and skating to the locker room under his own power, was reminiscent of Scott Stevens’ devastating hit on Eric Lindros back in 2000.
Trouba was not penalized, and there seemed to be a consensus that it was in fact a legal hit based on the official rule book and the fact that while the point of contact was Meier’s head, the forward’s positioning contributed to that. But factor in intent, and potential damage… it’s easy to question whether a hit like that should be legal.
Meier appeared banged up, but he did return to the bench later in the period and was in the handshake line, even sharing a moment with Trouba postgame.
It’s too soon to say whether Meier will be available for Wednesday’s Round 2 opener against the Hurricanes, well-rested and surely well aware of the speed and sensational goaltending that awaits.
