When Vanecek struggled during identical 5-1 losses in Games 1 and 2, Ruff met with his assistants to gain feedback on a possible change.
"Everyone voiced their thoughts on the situation, but I don't think it was that hard [a decision] knowing the player and what he's done," Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. "We know he's a very calm goalie. We know he's even-keel, and that ripples through your lineup. It really does. I believe the players are very confident in his ability because his calmness instills that in the players."
Oh yes, that calmness. Never has there been a time when a situation, scoring chance or even a goal has seemed to rattle the rookie.
"I've always been more of a calm person, so I guess that's just how I am," Schmid said.
How did he achieve that level of serenity?
"Probably my dad (Andreas)," Schmid said. "He's basically exactly like me. Even when I started rehabilitation after hip surgery, I had the same mentality, just sticking, being calm and doing what the trainers told me. The Devils really supported me, and I had the pro team and my family helping me back home in Switzerland."
Schmid was chosen by the Devils in the fifth round (No. 136) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He played for Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League, Corpus Christi of the North American Hockey League, and Omaha and Sioux City in the USHL.
He was named USHL goalie of the year in 2021 after going 22-13-1 with a 2.01 GAA, .921 save percentage and three shutouts in 36 regular-season games for Sioux City. He has this season and next remaining on a three-year, entry-level contract he signed with New Jersey on May 17, 2021.
Schmid played for Utica of the American Hockey League before getting six games with the injury-plagued Devils last season.
"That experience helped me," he said. "It just kind of opened my eyes. I learned what I had to work on to play at this level, be consistent and successful. I had to pick up the pace a little bit, knowing not to cheat on certain 2-on-1s and being more stationary on 3-on-2s."
Fitzgerald said, "I just think he's a student of the game. He's definitely not our most athletic goalie, but I think the confidence he got from playing really well in the [AHL], especially at the start of the year, was important."
Schmid was 22-8-5 with a 2.60 GAA and .911 save percentage in 38 games for Utica last season and 11-7-4 with a 2.62 GAA and .905 save percentage in 23 games this season.
"What's most impressive to me was he went to Utica, spent time and got a taste of the NHL," Strand said. "He goes back to Utica and is still good ... it didn't throw him for a loop. He was killing it at both levels and that's hard. I just think it's a testament to the character that's inside that kid.
"Nothing fazes him."