Akira Schmid projected to start for New Jersey Devils in Game 3

Well, they had to try something.

After dropping the first two games against the New York Rangers with Vitek Vanecek in net, the Devils will go with Akira Schmid in Game 3 at the Prudential Center on Saturday night.

Schmid held the starter’s net during practice, which typically indicates the No. 1 that evening. Vanecek shared the net with MacKenzie Blackwood during the skate. Coach Lindy Ruff said the starting goalie will be a game-time decision.

It’s a pivotal game for the Devils, who are essentially in must-win mode for the rest of the series. Vanecek was the goaltender that carried the Devils early on, including during that franchise-record run in the early stages.

Vanecek, 27, has an 0-2-0 record with a .827 save percentage in the playoffs this year. In five postseason starts over his career, he has a dismal .841 save percentage with just one win with Washington.

Schmid was 9-5-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage this season, giving the team some much-needed wins down the stretch. Schmid has never started an AHL playoff game, with the 22-year-old having just one AHL playoff game to his credit. Schmid’s last start came on March 18 against Florida, making 37 stops in a 4-2 loss.

Two weeks later, he was sent back to the AHL and got into a couple of games with Utica before getting called up to close the regular season. He stopped all 20 shots in a comeback effort over Washington on April 14.

The Rangers have won both games 5-1, so the Devils will look to win tonight to avoid being swept in Game 4 on April 22. If the Devils can steal a win, they’ll force at least a fifth game on April 27.