3 takeaways from Knights win: Akira Schmid handcuffs former team
Akira Schmid admitted he was nervous facing his former team for the first time.
He didn’t look it.
Schmid recorded a 24-save shutout in his first start against the Devils, and the Golden Knights won their third straight game with a 3-0 victory Friday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Schmid was acquired from the Devils on June 29, 2024, along with right wing Alexander Holtz, for left wing Paul Cotter.
The 25-year-old was a fifth-round pick of the Devils in 2018. He quickly rose up the ranks in 2023 when he started for the Devils in the playoffs. That included a win in Game 7 of the first round against the New York Rangers.
“It’s the first time skating out there on the other end,” Schmid said on the Knights’ TV broadcast. “It was a little different, but I think we did a good job and it was exciting for me.”
Schmid improved to 10-2-4 this season, reaching double figures in wins for the first time.
“He was under control all night,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Good for him. Everyone likes to come back to where they’ve been before and put on a good showing.”
Defenseman Shea Theodore scored with 12 seconds remaining in the first period. Center Tomas Hertl and left wing Ivan Barbashev each added a power-play goal in the third, as the Knights (13-6-8) started their five-game road trip on a strong note.
No penalties were called until 2:16 into the third period when left wing Brandon Saad was called for tripping. The Devils (16-12-1) didn’t have a shot on goal during the power play.
They didn’t generate anything dangerous on their second power play with 7:54 remaining, either.
Schmid, with a 1-0 lead, covered a loose puck with his right pad after Devils center Dawson Mercer missed the net with 6:55 left. The puck nearly deflected off Schmid into the net.
“He made a couple massive saves for us. Some late big saves, for sure,” left wing Mitch Marner said. “When guys needed to, we blocked shots, but he made some big saves like usual.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Hart injured
Goaltender Carter Hart did not dress Friday because of a lower-body injury and is day to day.
The Knights recalled prospect netminder Jesper Vikman on Friday to back up Schmid.
Hart made 27 saves in his Knights debut Tuesday in a 4-3 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Cassidy said the injury happened Tuesday, and Hart aggravated it during practice Thursday.
“We didn’t feel we were in a position that if something happened to Akira that we wanted (Hart) to back up,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy said he expects Hart to return during the trip.
2. Sissons also out
The Knights also had to make a late change up front with center Colton Sissons leaving warmups and being a late scratch because of an illness.
Left wing Reilly Smith drew back into the lineup and played center for the first time in his seven-plus seasons with the Knights.
Sissons has three points in 24 games, but faceoffs are his biggest strength. He’s won 55 percent of his faceoffs this season. The Knights are already down center William Karlsson (lower body) for help down the middle.
But the wingers held their own in the dot. Right wing Keegan Kolesar won his only draw, while Smith went 2-for-3.
3. Dominating the Devils
It has been a one-sided affair for nine seasons between the Knights and Devils.
The Knights won for the fourth straight time against the Devils and improved to 10-2-3 all time. They pushed their mark to 5-0-3 at Prudential Center.
It helps that the Knight have caught the Devils in a bit of a slide. They lost all four games of a four-game homestand and were shut out for the second consecutive game.
New Jersey captain Nico Hischier was called for two penalties in the third that led to the Knights’ power-play goals.
Hertl tipped Marner’s one-timer with 4:24 left to make the score 2-0, and Barbashev scored on a rebound with 1:24 left.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
