The Calgary Flames may receive a favorable situation on Saturday as they continue their push for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy suggested to reporters after the morning practice that Akira Schmid, their third-string goalie, will be in net against the Flames on Hockey Night in Canada. Wes Gilbertson of Postmedia confirmed Schmid would indeed start.
`We have a young goalie in there. Let him see pucks,` Cassidy commented when discussing Vegas`s focus on protecting the front of their net against Calgary.
Schmid has participated in two games for the Golden Knights this season but has not yet started for the Pacific Division leaders. In his two appearances, the 24-year-old made 14 saves and conceded no goals.
Drafted in the fifth round by the New Jersey Devils in 2018, the Swiss goaltender accumulated 43 NHL games before signing a two-year contract with Vegas in the last off-season.
Schmid has mainly played for the Henderson Silver Knights in the American Hockey League during the 2024-25 season, where he has a 9-18-4 record, a 3.58 goals-against average, and a .886 save percentage in 30 games.
Ilya Samsonov and Adin Hill have been the primary goalies for the Golden Knights this season.
Vegas enters Saturday`s game having already secured a playoff berth. However, they are only three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for the division lead.
Calgary, on the other hand, is five points behind the Minnesota Wild with two games in hand.
You can watch as the Flames aim to close the gap on Saturday while Minnesota is idle. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT / 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet or available for streaming on Sportsnet+.
Tristan Blackwood