Cory Schneider finally found what he was looking for at the NHL level.
Now he wants more.
The Manitoba Moose netminder, who was returned to the AHL on Tuesday, stopped 45 of 47 shots for the parent Vancouver Canucks in a start against the Dallas Stars last Friday.
The Canucks lost 2-1, but Schneider sounded like someone who was finally happy with one of his NHL starts.
"It's nice to finally put together a full game and play like I wanted to play, and that I know I can play," said Schneider, whose NHL record is 2-5-1 over the last two seasons.
"... You don't know how many opportunities you're going to get, so you gotta make the most of every single one."
The more positive showings Schneider can put together, the better it will be for him. Since all-star Roberto Luongo signed a long-term contract with the Canucks earlier this year, Schneider will likely have to go elsewhere if he's going to be a No. 1 NHL netminder. So he is basically auditioning for the other 29 clubs each time he starts.
Schneider, the reigning AHL goaltender of the year, also felt he had something to prove to the Canucks after a couple of rocky moments last season.
"You always want your coaches' and your teammates' trust and respect," he said. "I wasn't sure if I had it from anybody up there before just based on how I did last season, so it's nice to kind of get in there and play well for the guys and kinda battle for them.
"... One game doesn't make a career or a season, but it was a nice start and hopefully I can build from it."
The 23-year-old will no doubt be between the pipes for tomorrow's game against the Toronto Marlies at MTS Centre as the Moose try to halt a five-game losing streak. Manitoba and Toronto meet again on Saturday night.
Moose head coach Scott Arniel was impressed with Schneider's play against the Stars and doesn't think he'll have any problems in his return to Manitoba.
"That's the goaltending that everybody's been waiting to see," Arniel said. "Last year he had maybe a couple periods where he played that way and then would let in some bad goals. That was a pretty solid 60-minute game.
"But in saying that, he still feels he needs to win those games. It's one thing to be play at the top of your game, but you also gotta find ways to win hockey games."
CLASSY MOVE: The Moose had a morning practice yesterday at MTS Centre, but Arniel stopped the proceedings at exactly 11:11 and had his players gather for a moment of silence in honour of Remembrance Day.
"There's certainly lots going on in the world right now and lots gone on in history," Arniel said. "I'm a believer in taking a minute there. I just said the reason why, and they all knew. We took a minute."
LATE HITS: Arniel said defenceman Mike Funk (concussion) was still "glassy-eyed" and had a "little bit of a headache" yesterday. He won't play this weekend ... Arniel, wanting to work on his team's conditioning, made the players skate hard for the last 20 minutes of yesterday's workout ... Former Moose defenceman Jimmy Sharrow has signed with the ECHL's Victoria Salmon Kings.
kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca
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SCHNEIDER'S STARTS
Cory Schneider's numbers in his starts for the parent Vancouver Canucks
Date Opp. GA SV SV% W/L
Nov. 29/08 at Cgy 3 28 .903 L
Dec. 5/08 at Min 1 16 .941 W
Dec. 7/08 at Col 4 31 .886 SOL
Dec. 14/08 vs. Fla 3 18 .857 W
Dec. 23/08 at S.J. 5 10 .667 L*
Nov. 6/09 at Dal 2 45 .957 L
* pulled from the game
