Cory Schneider's Tale of Two Seasons and Off-Ice Contributions

NEWARK, NJ -- It is often said that it's not how you start the season, but how you finish it. For New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider, he finished strong as he put together three consecutive solid performances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite losing the first-round series to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Schneider, 31, reclaimed the starting job in Game 3 after the Devils fell behind in the series 2-0 and was tasked with the tall order of stopping a high-powered Lightning offense that led the regular season in goals scored. With everything on the line, he elevated his game in the postseason, erasing from memory his previous 12 winless starts. Holding the Lightning to only two goals on 36 shots, Schneider earned his first playoff win in a Devils jersey.

Although the Devils would ultimately drop the next two games and the series, Schneider's strong play between the pipes continued. For the series, he had a 1.78 goals against average and a .950 save percentage, which was third-highest among qualifying goaltenders thus far in the postseason, trailing only Marc-Andre Fleury of the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks. Both goalies advanced to the second round by way of four-game sweeps.

"It was a strange year for me -- I felt like one of the best goalies in the league at Christmas and was a big reason (of our success)," Schneider said during an exit interview with reporters in the team locker room on Tuesday afternoon. "The second half of the year, between injuries and stops and starts, I just couldn't seem to get it back. There were a lot of swings in terms of highs and lows."

During a 12-game stretch, Schneider couldn't find a win and hadn't won a game since December 27th. Over that timeframe, he lost seven one-goal games.

"I never really wavered in terms of my belief or confidence," Schneider suggested. "It may not have shown in some games, but I knew once the playoffs came there's a chance you get called upon. For me it was about cancelling that last part of the season and forgetting about it to just start fresh."

"I expect to be that guy who plays the important games and gets us into the playoffs," he continued. "The way I finished here in the playoffs is the goalie that I think I am."

For the Devils, it was their first playoff appearance in six seasons. While Schneider admits it was a big step forward for the organization, he says there is still more work to do.

"It was a good year in terms of people and the culture in the locker room, but I think we took a big step forward in that regard," said Schneider. "Clearly we still have work to do, but as a team we have to figure out how to sustain this and not undo the good work that we were able to accomplish this year. From Day One of Training Camp, I think we all saw what it takes to have a season like this."

"We've always had a reputation as a hard-working team, but this year I feel we added a new dimension and element to our game in terms of our speed, skill and youth," he explained. "We've got the respect and attention from the league now, but with that it becomes harder. Teams are more prepared for you and that's what they expect out of you."

Off-Ice Accomplishments

Earlier this week, the NHL announced that Schneider was nominated by his teammates for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the annual award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.

"My wife (Jill) and I have really tried to make an impact with the community here," said Schneider. "Hockey is the biggest part of what we are doing and why we're doing this, but I think this is a place where you can have an impact off the ice as well and help people who could use some positive energy."

Schneider and his wife launched the initiative "Cory's Keepers," in which he invites 20 students or veterans for 20 games each season. The invitees have seats behind the net for the game he participates in a meet-and-greet with them after the game. The program started on December 6, 2015 with 20 students from the Newark Public School’s East Side High School Boys and Girls Hockey teams and the Hockey In Newark Program

"You don't do these kinds of things to get recognized and win awards," Schneider explained. "Hopefully this can brings more awareness to the things that we are doing and get more people involved (next season)."

Schneider said he was honored to receive the nomination and explained that there's a lot of other good players on that list who are doing some great things in the hockey community.

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner will receive a $40,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of the winner’s choice and the two runners-up will each receive a $5,000 donation from the National Hockey League Foundation to benefit a charity or charities of their choice.

The three finalists for the 2017-18 King Clancy Memorial Trophy will be announced on Monday, April 30, and the winner will be revealed on Wednesday, June 20, during the 2018 NHL Awards™ presented by Hulu at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The winner will chosen by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and the NHL Broadcasters' Association.