3 Takeaways: Schneider Steps Up for First Win with Islanders

With all due respect to Jean-Gabriel Pageau's hat-trick, Kyle Palmieri's game-winning goal and the New York Islanders' fourth-straight win, the story from Sunday's 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils was Cory Schneider.
Playing in his first NHL game since March 6, 2020, Schneider stopped 27-of-30 shots, picking up his first win in over two calendar years.
"I'm just grateful for the opportunity," the 36-year-old netminder said after the win. "You just don't know after last year and you're not sure where your future is in your career at that point, and if you'll ever get another opportunity. On a personal note, you know, I want to thank my wife and my kids for pushing me and encouraging me to keep going and to get me to this point, my family and obviously the Islanders for bringing me on board and bringing me in the fold and giving this opportunity.

"It's easy to take the league for granted when you're young and you're playing a lot," Schneider added. "Things can change quickly, as we all know, in life in general, not just in hockey. So always be grateful for the chances."

Coincidently, Schneider's last game came at Prudential Center back when he was a member of the Devils. He signed with the Islanders as a free agent ahead in January 2021, but spent almost the entirety of the year on the team's taxi squad, save for two games with the (then) Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Despite getting no assurances from the Islanders about NHL playing time Schneider re-upped with the organization this year, primarily playing in Bridgeport where he has boasted a 10-10-3 record, a 2.68 GAA, a .921 SV% and one shutout. Schneider was 6-1-1 in his last eight decisions with Bridgeport before being recalled on Tuesday. The goaltender said he's felt a noticeable difference in his game since the New Year.
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KINGER'S CALLS
Pageau Opens Scoring
Pageau's Power-Play Goal
Pageau Completes Hat Trick
Palmieri's Game-Winner
Head Coach Barry Trotz praised Schneider's perseverance to come back after a year without game action.
"There's a love for the game," Trotz said. "He probably wanted a little bit of redemption, if you will, because he's gone through some injuries, rehab and all this all the stuff that people don't realize that players go through that can derail your confidence, can derail your career, all that and he's battled through a lot of stuff. And everybody's really happy for him."
Schneider served as a backup for 12 games this season, most recently earning a recall from Bridgeport with Ilya Sorokin out with an upper-body injury. With Semyon Varlamov playing three games in four nights, Trotz turned to Schneider for Sunday's tilt against his former team, informing the goalie on Saturday.
Schneider said his family, who still live in New Jersey, were able to attend Sunday's contest and he thanked them for their support over the past two years. He also dedicated the win to the memory of his 14-year-old nephew, who tragically passed away in a house fire last year.
"I'd like to think he was here tonight helping me out because I had a few bounces and a few breaks that went my way," Schneider said. "I know he would have loved to have been here, so some of his brothers were here and their stepdad so that was a really nice feeling to have them here as well."
As for the game, Schneider said the pre-game nerves almost felt like playing a first NHL game all over again. Brock Nelson gave the goaltender a tap on the pads prior to puck drop, but the veteran quickly settled in, coming up with a shoulder save on Devils leading scorer Jesper Bratt on New Jersey's first shot of the game.
New Jersey's first goal came via a high-to-low deflection from Jesper Boqvist, while the second-and-third goals came from high-danger areas. There was little Schneider could be faulted for on Nico Hischier's goal to make it 4-3 with a minute to play, a loose puck that found the Devils captain alone in front.
Schneider did come up big with roughly 30 seconds to play, getting his left toe on a Hischier chance. When it was all said and done, Schneider was mobbed by his teammates.
"He's such an awesome guy," said Palmieri, who played with Schneider for five years in New Jersey. "You watched him through the good times and the bad times and he comes in with a smile on his face and works hard. It's been a tough road back for him, but it's awesome to get the win for him tonight, especially in this building and against this team."

PAGEAU PACES ISLES WITH FOUR-POINT GAME:

Call him JG Chapeau?
Jean-Gabriel Pageau recorded his second-career regular season hat-trick on Sunday and was in on all four Islanders goals in the team's 4-3 win.
The center scored a natural hat trick, opening up a 3-0 lead for the Islanders by the 14:58 mark of the second period.
"I got a few bounces, I guess tonight I was in the right spot and the puck landed on my stick," Pageau said. "Our line has been doing a good job the past few games getting some goals and even some disallowed. I think you have start to worry when you don't have chances and we've had chances as of late, so we'll keep trying to build on that and it's been working."
Pageau was in the right place at the right time for all three goals. On the first, the 29-year-old was the beneficiary of a slick saucer pass from Palmieri, before beating Nico Daws five-hole at 11:56. The goal snapped a 13-game drought for the center, though he'd racked up seven assists over that span.
On the second, Pageau went to the paint and deposited an Anders Lee pass at 14:00. The hat-trick goal came in similar fashion, with Pageau posted up in front before redirecting a Pelech feed past Daws at 14:58. The hats rained down from the many Isles fans in attendance, with Pageau even catching one on his stick.

"It was cool," Pageau said of catching the hat. "I was almost more happy to catch the hat than score the third one. It just made everyone laugh and I had a good chuckle."
Pageau's only previous regular season hat trick also came at Prudential Center on Nov. 13, 2019 with the Ottawa Senators. Pageau also has two playoff hat tricks on his resume, in 2013 vs Montreal and in 2017 vs the Rangers.
Though the Islanders led wire-to-wire, it was a Palmieri goal that held up as the game-winner. Pageau fed Palmieri, who cut across the slot and snapped a wrister stick side on Daws at 14:53. Palmieri finished the game with three points (1G, 2A), as did Pelech (3A), his first points in New Jersey since being acquired by the Islanders last April.

ISLES MAKE IT FOUR WINS IN A ROW:

Sunday's win marked the Islanders fourth-straight victory - a season high. It also marked the first time the Islanders had been five games above NHL .500 this season. The team is 11-3-1 in its last 15 games.
The road win also brought the Islanders road record up to 14-14-5 this season, so officially at NHL .500. They're still 11 points back of the Washington Capitals for the second Wild Card, with a game in hand, with 14 games to go.
While they're still a relative long shot to make the postseason, the team has shown no inclination to quit, or relax down the stretch.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders continue their five-game road trip on Tuesday night when they take on the Dallas Stars. Puck drop is at 8:30 p.m. eastern.