There has been a lot of talk recently that AV is not following the “get Luongo rest” plan. Recently guys like Botchford (http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/whitetowel/archive/2010/12/09/let-cory-schneider-play.aspx) and Ed Willes (http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Luongo+play+becoming+issue+Canucks+Willes/3948952/story.html#ixzz17axEm0vT) have written articles about Luongo’s play and the rest he is getting from the coach. I have decided to break down the rest of the season and give my opinion on the goalie situation.
First off before the season began AV and MG both said that they had gone through the schedule and roughly marked off the games Schneider would start. Av is now saying that the schedule has worked in a way that has allowed Luongo to start the games he has. If this is the case then we can expect Schneider to start getting more games as the season moves on. In theory this works for me. Luongo is capable of starting off with a big work load to get his game going and then ease off the peddle on the way to the playoffs. If this is the case then the way I have broken down the season will work for their plan.
All of the games I have the Canucks starting Schneider come with a reason. The following are the starts I expect Schneider to get.
Dec 12th @EDM Luongo will have played 10 starts in a row. The Game follows a back to back with T.B. and it’s a 5:00Pm start in EDM the next day. The break will give Luongo three days rest before CBJ.
Dec 23rd @CBJ Again another back to back DET to CBJ for a 4:00PM game. Lu would have had 4 games in a row and will get another three days rest for the next game against EDM.
Jan 2nd @Col The start of a five games in seven nights. The first of back to back games on the road, Schneider gets COL Luongo gets SJ. Having Luongo get this break will let him start the next three games with one day off for each.
Jan 8th @ DET The end of the five games in seven nights. Schneider comes in the end game of the back to back against DET at home on CBC. This would be Schneider first “Big game” this season. A good test and it would give Lu 3 days off before a weird road trip starting with the NYI.
Jan 13th @ NYR Back to back NYR and Wash. Lu gets the start against the CAPS he typically plays well against them.
Jan 18th @ Col Another start here will give Lu a nice set of breaks in the middle of the season to rejuvenate. It’s the last game of the road trip and will give Lu three days off before coming home for four straight and one on the road.
Feb 2nd @ Pho After five straight starts Schneider would get the start in PHO for the second game of the back to back with DAL. This game off gets Luongo two days rest before a Friday night game at home against the Hawks.
Feb 13th @ STL Another five games in a row for Luongo and a back to back to finish it off. Lu gets STL and Schneider gets the lower scoring MIN.
Feb 24th Vs STL This start is questionable because the schedule works in favour of Luongo starting seven games in a road with only the first one being on the road. However this is a good time to get Lu another rest before the big stretch run.
Mar 5th @ LAK This is the first half of a back to back with LAK and ANA. Schneider gets the nod against the tough LA team during the afternoon start (1:00PM) hopefully the team rallies behind Schneider on the road and gets up for an early game. Lu would have two days off for ANA on the Sunday evening.
March 14th VS MIN Lu plays three in a row and then gets a three game break before what could be a very important divisional game with COL.
March 27th @ CBJ Four more games for Lu and Schneider will start another strange time afternoon game. Keeping Luongo out of this game will be good because of the odd start time (2:00PM) on the road.
April 5th @ EDM From what I can gather this is sometime around when Luongo’s baby is expected. If this is the game he misses he could have four days off then come back for the last two games of the regular season to be ready for the playoffs.
All in all these breaks will work to keep Luongo fresher for the playoffs. Keep in mind this isn’t the 20-25 games the Canucks talked about having Luongo play this year. However even with an injury last year, including the Olympics, Luongo had 73 games played. The year before with a long layoff due to his groin injury he played 54 games. ’07-’08 he played 73 and ’07-’08 he played 76.
With these days off that I have mapped out Luongo will end up starting only 65 games. Schneider will end up playing 17 games. Hopefully these extra days off will give him the rest he needs to excel in the playoffs and be one of the key reasons the Canucks are successful in this year’s playoffs.
It is still be possible for the Canucks to get Luongo more rest than he has had in previous years and the upcoming schedule will lend itself to making the start of these rest games easier for Luongo with a lot of upcoming back to back games.
Do you think this is enough rest for Luongo? What other games would you like to see him take off?
Leave your comments.
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Thanks for reading.
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