“New Jersey Devils Eliminate New York Rangers in NHL Playoffs with Akira Schmid’s Shutout Performance”

The New Jersey Devils were the last team to advance to the quarterfinals of the NHL playoffs. In the decisive seventh game of the first round series against the New York Rangers, the team clinched a 4-0 victory against their neighbors from Manhattan on Monday evening (local time) in Newark. The Carolina Hurricanes are now waiting in the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference, the first game is on Wednesday in Raleigh/North Carolina.

The match winner in the decisive duel of the “Battle of the Hudson” was the young Swiss goalie of the Devils. Akira Schmid (22) parried all 31 shots on his goal and made some spectacular saves. Michael McLeod finally broke the spell in front of the opposing goal in the middle third with a goal from a man down (30′). Tomas Tatar made it 2-0 a few minutes later.

The Devils, who were not too highly traded before the season and had set a franchise record with 52 main round wins, won a play-off series for the first time since 2012.

Draisaitl and Grubauer on Wednesday and Thursday

In the west, superstar Leon Draisaitl with the Edmonton Oilers and Philipp Grubauer with the Seattle Kraken are also in the next round. The Kraken will play their first game against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night, and the Oilers will play their first game against the Vegas Golden Knights a day later.