Vanecek, Schmid have different personalities, same goal for Devils

NEWARK, N.J. -- Vitek Vanecek loves to talk it up. Akira Schmid prefers a more subtle approach.

The New Jersey Devils are holding out hope the personalities help create the perfect goalie tandem for a serious Stanley Cup Playoff contender.

"I mean, [Schmid's] a great guy ... he's a little bit quiet, but he's talking more," Vanecek said. "I can't complain."

Said Schmid: "In the morning, he's the first guy who just starts talking and, you know, kind of doesn't stop. But it's great. Vitek's always smiling. If you're having a bad day, you walk in here and he makes your day better."

Vanecek and Schmid are sharing the Devils crease to begin this season after each played a vital role in helping them advance to the Eastern Conference Second Round last season.

"I think we're going to be a team that needs two goaltenders, and it isn't about who the starter is," coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think if you look at the load you face inside of a season, and how it unfolded last year, you need two goalies to win you hockey games.

"We also need to play better defensively and I think that'll help our goaltenders out with some of the prime opportunities we've been giving up. It's something that we were able to clear up last year and we need to clear it up again."

The Devils have allowed 31.8 shots per game (11th most in the NHL) after yielding the fifth fewest in 2022-23 (28.2).

Schmid is expected to get the nod against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; MAX, TNT, TVAS). Vanecek made 27 saves in a 5-2 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Vanecek was a No. 1 option for the first time in the NHL last season, finishing 33-11-4 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and three shutouts in 52 games (48 starts). The 27-year-old struggled in March, however, with a 5-4-1 record and .898 save percentage in 10 games (nine starts), and failed to regain his form in seven playoff games (1-3, 4.64 GAA, .825 save percentage).

"Being a goalie is hard, and when you're on this level the goalies can play, but the most important thing is the mental aspect and being strong in your head," Vanecek said. "After my playoff appearances with the Washington Capitals (2020-22) and in New Jersey, I tried to change something and work on my mental approach."

That change has been aided by sports psychologist Marian Jelinek, who has been working with professional athletes for over 30 years.

"When shooters come in on you, it's important not thinking about it and be in the moment and just play that moment," Vanecek said. "I feel like when the goalie starts thinking, there are so many things in the head and it's hard to focus on that play because you start thinking about something else. That's why I'm trying to change some things mentally."

Jelinek told NHL.com that each of his clients is unique in their own way but "the common denominator is the work with unwanted thoughts."

"For [Vanecek] it was a matter of working on the subjective world, how best to set it up before training or to make the subsequent process as efficient as possible," Jelinek said. "Working with NHL goaltenders is different than other skaters. For example, working with an error, concentration and attention is very important."

Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Vanecek was no different than any other young player earning a bigger role last season and remains confident in his ability.

"He just gained valuable experience; he never went through that (kind of workload) before," he said. "Every goaltender aspires to be a No. 1 goalie and play the bulk of the games. It was the first time he'd ever done that, and I think he'll grow from it. Vitek won us a lot of hockey games. His expectations and standards are high and now he can balance it and really get to his game and, most importantly, be consistent and maintain it."

Vanecek is 2-1-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .904 save percentage in three starts.

"I talk a lot with [goalie coach Dave Rogalski] but the most important thing is the skating," Vanecek said. "After the game, you're going to see what kind of goals you allowed and then create a drill on that in order to get better in that situation."

Schmid, 23, is 1-0-1 with a 3.30 GAA and .892 save percentage in two starts.

As a rookie, Schmid was 9-5-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage in 18 regular-season games (14 starts), and 4-4 with a 2.35 GAA, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in nine playoff games (eight starts).

"Obviously you want to play as many games as you can but, at the end of the day, we're still teammates and we got to push each other," Schmid said. "I guess a friendly competition is the best way to describe it. We both want to play but the more we push each other in practice and games, the better the outcome is for both of us."

Schmid replaced Vanecek in Game 3 against the New York Rangers in the first round and helped the Devils to a seven-game series victory (4-1, 1.38 GAA, .951 save percentage, two shutouts).

"I think I did a good job (against the Rangers), but it's the environment, too," Schmid said. "We have great leaders in the locker room who keep you grounded or pick you back up after a bad game. That's also a big part of it, too."