The Vancouver Canucks are once again on the brink of elimination in the postseason. The team has struggled in the past two playoff seasons after reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 2011. The Canucks are at risk of getting swept by the San Jose Sharks as the two teams are set to face off in Game 4. They have shown no signs of being at all competitive in this series, allowing the Sharks to blow them out in Game 3, 5-2. As the team attempts to shake things up, Cory Schneider will get the start for Game 4, in hopes of keeping the Canucks Stanley Cup hopes alive.
Schneider sat out the first two playoff games due to an undisclosed injury as veteran Roberto Luongo got the nod. When Schneider got the start for Game 3, the team was hoping he would continue his style of play that he displayed during the regular season. Instead, Schneider allowed five goals on 28 shots. He was pulled after four minutes in the third period and did not return. The starter played in 30 regular season games, allowing just 2.11 goals per game. He saved 23 of 28 shots in Game 3. Luongo allowed just six goals on 61 shots in the first two games. No matter, Vancouver still has faith that Schneider can get the job done.
"Cory is out MVP, he's one of the reasons we're in the playoffs. I've got a lot of faith in Cory and he's in tonight, said head coach Alain Vigneault.
While both goalies have not played well in their outings, they also have not played poorly, raising the question of who is the best option for the possible elimination game. The entire team has been unable to handle the Sharks' shooting attack. Schneider delivered two well-played periods, but got the mercy hook shortly into the third period.
The goalie carousel is just another page in the Canucks postseason woes. Vancouver has now scored a mere 17 goals in their last 13 playoff games. 11 of those games were losses. They have lost six straight postseason games at home. It is clear that goaltending is just one issue for the team. Neither Luongo nor Schneider can get the run support to back them up.
The situation is similar to last season when Vancouver dropped the first two games to the Los Angeles Kings and Schneider stepped in to provide some relief. The only difference is that this year, Schneider cannot seem to win either. Tuesday night will be his chance at redemption.