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Sharks felt ‘lucky not to play against’ Luongo

Cory Schneider

SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 05: Goaltender Cory Schneider #35 of the Vancouver Canucks allows a third period goal to Logan Couture (not pictured) of the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 5, 2013 in San Jose, California. The Sharks defeated the Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said Roberto Luongo wasn’t the problem in their first two losses to the San Jose Sharks, but he still replaced him with a now healthy Cory Schneider for Game 3. For that, the San Jose Sharks thank him.

“We felt Lou was playing great,” Sharks captain Joe Thornton told CSN Bay Area after their 5-2 victory on Sunday. “We felt we were lucky not to play against Lou, to be honest.”

Actually, the Sharks did face Luongo on Sunday, but not before they beat Schneider five times on 28 shots. Roberto Luongo came into the game early in the third period and stopped 10 straight shots.

“I felt pretty good until the start of the third period,” Schneider told the Vancouver Sun. “I just didn’t do enough, didn’t keep my team in it, didn’t give them a chance to win. I just let them down in a big way. It’s a real disappointing feeling.”

So with the Canucks down 3-0 in this series, who should start in Game 4 on Tuesday?

“If I’m called upon, I’ll be ready.” Luongo said. “If not, Cory will be ready as well. It’s his team and whatever happens I will be 100 per cent supportive.”

Either way, the Vancouver Canucks need to step up offensively or the goaltending debate will be moot.