The New Jersey Devils won its ninth game of the season on Wednesday night, solidifying the best start in franchise history. Cory Schneider won the game basically by himself.
The New Jersey Devils started the Western Canada road trip with a win against the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider was brilliant against his former team, stopping all 37 shots for his first shutout of the season. After a decent start for a team with a different start, this is the first time the Devils asked Schneider to win one on his own.
The Canucks were stonewalling the Devils fast paced offense. Jimmy Hayes scored the lone goal on a rocket shot off a rebound. Taylor Hall seemed like the only other player getting chances. The rest of the team felt flat for most of the performance.
Schneider was best when his team needed him the most. At the end of the third period, with his team holding on to a one-goal lead, he stopped two point blank shots. One of those shots was a slapper in front of him from Daniel Sedin.
Scheider showed great movement within the crease, stopping shots off blocks by his defensemen.
The Devils starter has looked very good since returning from injury. In his last game against the Arizona Coyotes, he stopped 34 of 37 shots from a young and gun team. Wednesday game was something different, however. We haven’t seen a performance this good since Schneider faced 50 shots against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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This performance officially shuts the door on last year’s struggles. In the 2016-17 season, Schneider only had two shutouts all season. Yes, the defense is better this season, but there are still times where Schneider is hung out to dry. Unlike last year, when he allowed soft goals seemingly every night, the only goals he allows are the ones you expect him to allow. On top of that, he stopped shots he had no business stopping.
This Devils team can win in so many ways. The offense is good enough to win on most nights. It’s good to know that when the offense isn’t clicking, Schneider has it in him to put the team on his back and win.