New Jersey Devils: 5 Greatest Cory Schneider Games

4. 10/11/2017 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Sometimes shots are just an empty stat because none of them were very good, then other times a team fires 50 shots at a goalie, and he still wins the game for his team. That’s what happened at the start of the 2017-18 season when the Devils beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Sure, Schneider allowed three goals, but that was on 50 shots.

These two teams both went in to the early-season matchup unbeaten. Obviously, the Maple Leafs were a team looking to become contenders, while the Devils would need every point it could get that season to make the playoffs.

The first period started rough, with two goals for the Maple Leafs. Luckily, the Devils also scored two goals taking the pressure off. Then, Schneider took over in the second period. He stopped all of Toronto’s 17 shots, and the Devils took a commanding lead.

In the third period, Schneider kept the Maple Leafs from getting back in the game. He faced eight shots from underneath the red line, including one that literally came inside his crease by Tyler Bozak that he stopped cold.

The only third-period goal scored by the Maple Leafs was off the stick of Auston Matthews when the Leafs had a 5-on-3 advantage. The Leafs actually had eight power plays this game. That’s how they were able to accumulate that many shots.

This wasn’t the last great Schneider performance, but it was the last one where we thought we might have a chance to one day see the elite version of Schneider. He was peppered with shots all night, and he never wavered. Of course, we know the Devils needed every single point that season to make the playoffs. If they lost this game, who knows what would have happened.