The New Jersey Devils lost Cory Schneider in a heart-breaking game against the Boston Bruins. While we wait for an update on his status, Devils fans should hope for the best possible news.
Cory Schneider is one of the most polarizing players on the roster possibly in the New Jersey Devils’ history. There are fans who can’t wait to get him out the door, and others who believe he’s the key to this franchise’s future. He’s played Vezina level during most of his time, but has been a sieve at other times.
This season, Schneider seems to be mostly back to his old self. He was out of his mind earlier in the year, but hasn’t been great during the Devils current rough stretch. It doesn’t help that his backup Keith Kinkaid has been bad, so the Devils have to lean on him even more, but you still expect better play than what we’ve seen.
Despite his play as of late, the Devils need Schneider.
Now, the Devils might be forced to learn to win without him. Schneider was injured on the Bruins second goal while trying to stretch across the crease. Immediately after the goal, which came during a 5-on-3 where he was forced to cross the crease multiple times, he was bowled over in pain.
He tried to shake it off during a lengthy delay that took forever, but once he went to the locker room for the second intermission he never returned.
Ken Appleby replaced him for the third period, and played well in relief for the second straight time. The fourth man on the Devils depth chart hasn’t allowed a goal while facing 28 shots. He’s played well in his short NHL stint.
However, one can’t expect too much from Appleby if he’s forced to take the starting role. He has an .888 save percentage in the AHL this season. The Devils traded for Eddie Lack just in case this exact scenario happened, but now he’s hurt. So for those keeping score at home, the Devils are currently dealing with injuries to Lack, Schneider and Kinkaid all at the same time.
Appleby is not a starting goalie as it stands right now. That is, unless, he finds some Scott Clemmensen type magic. For those who don’t remember, Clemmer played 40 games in the 2008-09 season after Martin Brodeur went down with injury. Kevin Weekes was not good enough as the starter, so Clemmensen carried the team. He went 25-13-1 while keeping the spot warm for the greatest goalie of all time.
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Looking past that happening twice to one franchise, Schneider’s injury is key to the Devils turning things around. If he’s out for weeks with a bad groin injury, then things could get bad for the Devils.
Schneider was playing a very good game before the injury. The only goal scored prior to that was one of the biggest flukes I’ve ever seen. The puck hit off the stick of Sami Vatanen, and floated in what felt like slow motion into the net. The second goal came on a 5-on-3, which no goalie could stop. The third goal was clearly due to Schneider’s injury. He could not move like he usually can, and was helpless on a 2-on-1.
Schneider is much better than the Appleby-MacKenzie Blackwood combo that’s staring at the Devils right now. Hopefully we see Schneider back right after the All-Star break. If not, then the Devils need to brace for this rough stretch to continue.