3 Keys: Devils at Rangers, Game 3 of Eastern 1st Round

(2M) Devils at (3M) Rangers
Eastern Conference First Round, Game 3
New York leads best-of-7 series 2-0
8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN1, CITY, TVAS2

NEW YORK --Akira Schmid will make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut for the New Jersey Devils against the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Schmid had his own net during the Devils' morning skate, with Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood sharing the other net.
Vanecek started Games 1 and 2 at Prudential Center with Schmid as the backup. The Rangers won both by the score of 5-1, and Vanecek allowed nine goals on 52 shots for a 4.52 goals-against average and .827 save percentage.
Schmid was 9-5-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage in 18 games (14 starts) in the regular season.
He last appeared in a playoff game of any kind for the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Playoffs on May 15, 2022, allowing four goals on 38 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to Rochester.
RELATED: [Complete Devils vs. Rangers series coverage]
"We trust our goalies all the same," Devils defenseman Damon Severson said. "They play the puck very similar so no matter who goes for us we're confidence no matter what."
The Rangers outscored the Devils 5-0 at 5-on-5 and 4-1 on the power play in Games 1 and 2.
"We know the Devils are going to come out and play their best game, there's no doubt about that, so we've just got to make sure we keep doing what we're doing," Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "You can't get too comfortable or overconfident, just keep doing what we're doing, keep doing what makes us successful. That's working for us."
The Devils were second in the NHL in road wins during the regular season with 28.
"We win one game, it turns the series around," Ruff said.
Teams that take a 3-0 lead are 199-4 (98.0 percent) winning a best-of-7 series, including 3-0 last season.
Here are 3 keys for Game 3:

1. Devils need top guys going

Jack Hughes has scored on a penalty shot and has a team-high 10 shots on goal in the two games, but has been the victim of some stellar saves from Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer have no points and 17 shots on goal. The Devils have no points and a combined eight shots on goal from their defensemen. They were tied for third in goals (49) and 10th in points (188) from defensemen in the regular season.
"They know they have to produce," Ruff said. "Sometimes in the playoffs, you can get a spark from a second or third line, but your top players have to be the guys that get it done for you. They know they have to make the difference."

2. Shesterkin stays sharp

The Rangers goalie has allowed two goals on 52 shots through two games for a 1.00 GAA and .962 save percentage. It's a continuation of his strong finish to the season. He won 12 of 16 starts with a 1.98 GAA and .934 save percentage from Feb. 26 through the end of the regular season.
Ruff said after Game 2 the Devils passed up some shooting opportunities and have struggled making plays under pressure. They have to find a way to crack Shesterkin.

3. Cover Kreider

Rangers forward Chris Kreider has four power-play goals in the series, all on deflections or redirections from in front of the goalie or in front of the right post.
The Rangers' first power-play unit is dangerous everywhere, specifically with Adam Fox at the point, Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane in the circles, and Mika Zibanejad in the bumper position, but Kreider's position and his stickwork have destroyed the Devils.
"We have to give him more attention," Ruff said. "We have to make sure we tie his stick up. If one goes off his shinpad there's not much you can do. It's tough to tie up his shinpad. But being in shot lanes and tying up his stick, let the goalie make the save."

Devils projected lineup

Timo Meier -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat -- Jack Hughes -- Erik Haula
Tomas Tatar -- Michael McLeod -- Dawson Mercer
Jesper Boqvist -- Curtis Lazar -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Kevin Bahl -- Damon Severson
Akira Schmid
Vitek Vanecek
Scratched:Kevin Bahl, Luke Hughes, Jesper Boqvist, Yegor Sharangovich, Mackenzie Blackwood
Injured:None

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Patrick Kane
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexis Lafreniere
-- Filip Chytil -- Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey -- Barclay Goodrow -- Tyler Motte
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Niko Mikkola -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:Ben Harpur, Jonny Brodzinski, Jake Leschyshyn, Libor Hajek
Injured: None

Status report

Siegenthaler is expected to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 2. He will likely replace Bahl, a defenseman who played the first two games. … Lazar is expected to make his debut in the series and replace Sharangovich, a forward who was held without a shot on goal in 11:51 of ice time in Game 2 after being a healthy scratch for Game 1. … The Rangers held a lightly attended optional skate Saturday and are not expected to make any changes.