If Vanecek is bad again game 2 then Schmid has to start at the Garden, because at that point it would be Vanecek's 3rd consecutive awful playoff start. It's not a big sample, but so far in the playoffs Vitek is 1-2 with a a 4.17 and .844. That is unacceptable. And we simply can't afford to just throw him back out there if he stinks up the joint again in game 2.
Series isn't over yet, but the Devils were just not ready for the moment physically or mentally last night. They were nervous, the Rangers had confidence and the psychological edge. Rangers had a game plan and executed it perfectly and exploited the Devils panic and confusion. And we didn't have a goalie who was capable of holding down the fort while the team collected itself.