For the first time in the series, Akira Schmid looked human when he surrendered five goals in a 5-2 Game 6 loss against the New York Rangers. However, the New Jersey Devils goaltender was tremendous when his team needed him the most in Game 7 as the Devils defeated the Rangers, 4-0.
Schmid stopped all 31 shots that he faced and recorded just his second career shutout. When the dust settled in the series, Schmid recorded an impressive 1.72 goals-against-average after replacing Vitek Vanecek in Game 3.
With Monday’s victory, the Devils won their first playoff series since defeating — you guessed it — the Rangers in Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Final. It also marked New Jersey’s sixth win in their last eight Game 7s, including winning four of their last five.
Following their triumph over the Rangers, the Devils will face their Metropolitan Division rivals in the Carolina Hurricanes.
NEW YORK SPORTS THIS WEEK 