Schneider steals the show in San Jose
Posted November 26, 2011 10:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SAN JOSE, CA (NEWS1130) – Cory Schneider stopped 43 shots and Andrew Alberts scored the game-winner 11:07 into the second period as the Vancouver Canucks won their fourth straight game, 3-2 over the San Jose Sharks.
Manny Malholtra opened the scoring with his second goal in three games just over six minutes into the game. Malholtra threw the puck on net from the left boards and it hit Douglas Murray’s skate and deflected past Antti Niemi and in.
The Sharks pulled even with a goal from their fourth line. Andrew Desjardins backhanded the puck in front and it went right to an unchecked Andrew Murray who put it past Schneider for his first goal of the year. It was the first goal Schneider had allowed since the third period of last Sunday’s win over the Ottawa Senators. His shutout streak spanned 154 minutes and 49 seconds.
The opening period also saw a spirited fight between Aaron Volpatti and Brad Winchester, with both landing a couple good blows before going to the ground.
The Canucks didn’t get their first powerplay of the game until Joe Thornton took a slashing minor 8:57 into the middle frame. With their top unit out, Dan Hamhuis put a slapshot on net and the rebound came right to Henrik Sedin who potted his team-leading eighth goal of the year.
Just 50 seconds later, Andrew Alberts put a wrister on net from the point and Niemi never saw it as it found it’s way over his shoulder and under the bar, giving Vancouver a 3-1 lead. It was the blueliner’s first goal in 50 games.
Alberts’ goal would hold up as the winner after Patrick Marleau made it a one-goal game with just 1:15 left to play in the third.
Schneider’s 43 saves gave him and the team four wins in a row and a sweep of their three-game road trip. The 25-year-old has stopped 117 of 120 shots during that time.
Alex Edler left the game after the second period with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. Edler was hit by Jamie McGinn late in the second and he didn’t returned for the third. Coach Alain Vigneault says he will be re-evaluated on Sunday.
The Canucks will now return home to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
