Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Vancouver Canucks fans continue to nervously await news on injured goalie and Team MVP Cory Schneider, who has been out of action since last week. As the clock ticks toward Wednesday night’s 7:30 p.m. PT puck-drop to commence the No. 1-seed Canucks against the No. 8-seed San Jose Sharks, it leaves increased worry that backup goaltender Roberto Luongo will be thrust again into action.
Luongo was last seen subbing during the regular-season finale on Saturday, in which Luongo was left in by Coach Alain Vigneault for all seven goals allowed. The former Canucks starter wasn’t dealt at the trade deadline and now could prove the “X” factor in Game 1, if he can put Saturday’s performance and postgame flight from speaking to the media out of his head.
“Yeah, I was pretty upset,” Luongo told Canada.com on Monday. “I just want to apologize for taking off on you guys. That’s not my style usually, but I had a moment there, and I just needed some time to myself. … No, I was upset with myself. It’s tough to get embarrassed like that. It’s happened one too many times for me, and I was really fuming — and it was better for me to just sit on the bus than say some things I would have regretted later on.”
The three-time Vezina Trophy finalist minded the net for the Canucks’ defeat of San Jose in the 2011 Western Conference finals, but Schneider has since taken over the starting role. However, Game 1 could provide some measure of redemption for the veteran Luongo.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
