| winson604 | 11-24-2008 06:45 AM |
Wait may be over for a Canucks' top draft pick
Schneider will back up Sanford with Luongo sidelined by injury
Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, November 24, 2008
Vancouver Canuck blue-chip prospect Cory Schneider is ready for anything, and that anything is expected to be revealed today when the team tables the information on Roberto Luongo's injury.
A cone of silence descended on the Canuck camp Sunday as practice was cancelled and management stated that "no further update" on Luongo would be issued until the conclusion of today's morning skate.
The soaring Canucks -- 7-0-2 in their last nine -- face the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings tonight at GM Place. The Wings are the NHL's best road team at 10-1-1 and they're even hotter than Vancouver with just a single regulation loss in their last 18 games. They've won five straight.
Curtis Sanford is expected to start after consecutive wins but Schneider appears more than ready based on his American League stats with the Manitoba Moose. The redhead from Marblehead, Mass., is 10-1-0 with an eye-popping 1.37 goals against average and .945 save percentage. He's won those 10 in consecutive fashion after dropping his season-opener.
"Obviously it's exciting to think of the possibilities, but Curtis has played really well the past couple of games," said Schneider, who has never made a regular NHL appearance. "I'm sure they'll stay with him until something goes wrong. He's proven he's very capable of carrying the load.
"I guess, for me, it's a case of coming in to push him and provide good insurance in case anything does happen. If they do decide to put me in, I'll be ready to go. They know what I'm bringing right now."
Schneider, 22, was the Canucks' first pick in the 2004 entry draft. He is in his second pro season after an outstanding career at Boston College.
Schneider said he was given no indication how long he might be up with the big club. Moose coach Scott Arniel and GM Craig Heisinger called him Saturday and told him to head to the airport. The injury to Luongo -- left groin, by all indications-- appears major.
"I just packed a suit and a couple of shirts and things like that," Schneider said.
"If I have to do laundry, it's not the end of the world. I honestly don't really know what's going on. I haven't talked to anybody from the Canucks yet."
Schneider did talk to his parents Saturday, alerting them to the fact he could see his first taste of NHL action on this callup.
"I told them what the deal was but I think, at the time, I didn't know a whole lot and I still don't know a whole lot," he explained. "You can never count on anything but I think they were still pretty excited at the possibility of me playing.
"I'm trying not to think too far ahead actually. I'm more worried about coming in and trying to make a seamless transition. Obviously there is a little more skill and a quicker pace in the NHL, but I think the fundamentals stay the same.
"The other teams may be better than the American League, but so are my guys." | 