Roberto Luongo appears to be dodging a bullet on Saturday. Then again, the Canucks may be making a big mistake.
With the announcement that Cory Schneider will get the start for the Canucks in their hotly-anticipated rematch of the Stanley Cup Final against the Bruins, Boston fans hoping to see Luongo back in the crease are sure to be disappointed.
The TD Garden was a house of horrors for Luongo during the Stanley Cup Final last year, as his 0-3 record, 8.04 goals-against average and .773 save percentage would suggest. Schneider, on the other hand, was solid in his relief appearances after Luongo was pulled twice. In limited minutes, the former Boston College goalie held the B's to a respectable 1.83 GAA and a .951 save percentage.
You could make the case that Luongo deserved a chance to face his demons in this regular-season affair, with an opportunity to prove himself at much lower stakes than the last time he visited Boston. On the other hand, points are precious in the NHL, and coach Alain Vigneault may believe that he can't afford to chance another blowout loss to damage Luongo's psyche.
The risk may have worth taking, but it appears that we'll never know. Schneider is set to get the start and Luongo will have to wait until either the Stanley Cup Final this year or next season when the Canucks visit again. It's a long time to wait, and you have to wonder, will it be worth it?
Did the Canucks make the right decision by not starting Roberto Luongo?
