Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo will start against the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal on Friday night, the team announced Thursday.
Canucks vs. Sharks: Roberto Luongo to start Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks have already announced their starting goaltender for Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal. Now, questions are raised about the status of Cory Schneider.
Rich Lam
Luongo started in Game 1 after it was determined starting goaltender Cory Schneider was not able to play. Schneider has missed three consecutive games due to an unspecified injury. Despite stating he was 100 percent ready to return in Game 1, head coach Alain Vigneault determined Schneider was not.
On Thursday, the goaltender did not participate in practice and was unavailable to the media. When Vigneault was asked about Schneider’s status, he stated the goaltender was still considered day-to-day.
In Game 1, Luongo allowed three goals on 28 shots. Vancouver ultimately lost the contest, 3-1.
While some have pointed to the dramatic situation surrounding the Canucks’ goaltending situation, the decision to go with Luongo appears to be about what’s wrong with Schneider more than what’s good about Luongo. Remember, Luongo allowed seven goals in the team’s regular-season finale -- not much of an example for a goaltender heating up for the playoffs.
Schneider was diagnosed with a body injury. Wasn’t upper. Wasn’t lower. It was his body. This is obviously a strange classification, even by NHL standards. Some have wondered whether it’s a physical or mental issue bothering Schneider. Ultimately, nobody actually knows and the organization isn’t saying anything.
All that’s clear is Schneider won’t be playing in Game 2.
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