Despite the fact that Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo has been nothing short of terrible in the past two games of the Stanley Cup Finals as the Boston Bruins have knotted up the series at two games apiece, expect Luongo in net for the Canucks when the series returns to Vancouver for Game 5 on Friday night. The Canucks have opened as favorites on Bodog?s NHL odds.
In the two games in Boston, the Bruins outscored Vancouver a whopping 12-1 and Luongo was on the ice for all 12 goals. He was nearly pulled in the Game 3 8-1 onslaught but asked to stay in and absorb his punishment. Luongo was yanked in Game 4 when Boston?s Rich Peverley scored his second goal at 3:39 of the third period, putting the Bruins ahead 4-0 for good.
There is precedent for Canucks coach Alain Vigneault to go with backup Cory Schneider as his starter for Game 5. After Luongo had back-to-back subpar games in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks, Vigneault went with Schneider as his starter for Game 6 of that series. But Schneider was injured while attempting a save on a penalty shot in the third period and was replaced by Luongo. Vancouver lost that game in overtime but Luongo was brilliant in Game 7 as Vancouver won in overtime to advance.
Schneider stopped all nine shots he faced against the Bruins on Wednesday but himself admits that he fully expects Luongo to start Game 5 despite the fact Luongo has allowed seven goals on the past 23 shots he has faced.
?As far as I'm concerned, three lucky goals off our sticks, off our bodies, and I'm not sure what (Luongo) could have done differently on most of them,? Schneider said. "So I don't really see him at fault and he deserves to play the next game.?
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In the two games in Boston, the Bruins outscored Vancouver a whopping 12-1 and Luongo was on the ice for all 12 goals. He was nearly pulled in the Game 3 8-1 onslaught but asked to stay in and absorb his punishment. Luongo was yanked in Game 4 when Boston?s Rich Peverley scored his second goal at 3:39 of the third period, putting the Bruins ahead 4-0 for good.
There is precedent for Canucks coach Alain Vigneault to go with backup Cory Schneider as his starter for Game 5. After Luongo had back-to-back subpar games in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks, Vigneault went with Schneider as his starter for Game 6 of that series. But Schneider was injured while attempting a save on a penalty shot in the third period and was replaced by Luongo. Vancouver lost that game in overtime but Luongo was brilliant in Game 7 as Vancouver won in overtime to advance.
Schneider stopped all nine shots he faced against the Bruins on Wednesday but himself admits that he fully expects Luongo to start Game 5 despite the fact Luongo has allowed seven goals on the past 23 shots he has faced.
?As far as I'm concerned, three lucky goals off our sticks, off our bodies, and I'm not sure what (Luongo) could have done differently on most of them,? Schneider said. "So I don't really see him at fault and he deserves to play the next game.?
Get the best Stanley Cup Finals props at Bodog!
