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New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider is ready to return

By Nick Ziegler

Mar 4, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New Jersey Devils center Adam Henrique (14) and defenseman Andy Greene (6) look on as goalie Cory Schneider (35) is tended to with an apparent injury during the third period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Devils 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; New Jersey Devils center Adam Henrique (14) and defenseman Andy Greene (6) look on as goalie Cory Schneider (35) is tended to with an apparent injury during the third period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Devils 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that Cory Schneider is ready to return, the New Jersey Devils never had intentions of shutting him down for the rest of the season.

Once it was discovered that Cory Schneider didn’t suffer a serious injury on March 4th against the Dallas Stars, the team decided to keep him active in hopes that he could return this season

“Not that we discussed. The team was clear about being smart with it and not trying to push it before it was ready, but I’ve felt physically good for two weeks now,” said Schneider to Rich Chere of NJ.com, who will backup Keith Kinkaid in Thursday night’s game against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center.

Schneider was never worried about having his season cut short, as his plan all along was to play when he was healthy.

“I don’t think that’s been a concern for me. As long as I’m healthy, I want to play. They never brought it up with me and it was never really a discussion.”

“We decided this morning we’d give it another night and get into a backup situation (against the Panthers) and play Saturday,” Schneider said to Chere.

The plan is for Schneider to make his return to the starting lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Just making sure I’m in top shape to get through 60 minutes and I feel good about my game, my rhythm and my technique and nothing is kind of off. That way when I jump back in I’ll be ready to go and not thinking about whether I am or not.”

A couple of extra days should help Schneider, who is trying to get his stamina back after missing a good chunk of time.

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“It wasn’t something that we saw. Just more in talking with him, the longer he’s been on the ice the fatigue gets in,” Hynes said to Chere. “When you have a full practice you get more shots and more energy, so it’s strictly just his time and volume on the ice. Just give him a couple extra days to get a 30, 40 or 50-minute practice where he’s facing a significant amount of shots and it’s not such a structured situation.

“I think once he gets that rhythm and his wind back a little bit, he’ll be ready to go no problem.”

Schneider also has no fear of re-aggravating the injury before the end of the season, as he feels like he is 100%.

“No. Zero worry about that,” he said to Chere. “I haven’t even thought about it. No issue there.”

It has been a great season for Schneider, as he has been one of the best goalies in the NHL this season, and was named to the All-Star team. This season, Schneider has totaled a 26-23-3 record, 2.17 GAA, and .923 save percentage.

Even though the Devils’ season is basically over, it will be nice for Devils’ fans to see their All-Star in the net a few more times this season.

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