Goaltender Cory Schneider makes first start in two years, leads Islanders to 4-3 win

Before Sunday, Schneider's last NHL start came for the Devils on March 6, 2020, a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues.  

Seven hundred fifty-eight days later, Schneider returned to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the site of his last NHL start, in a moment not lost on the 36-year-old. 

"It's funny, a little over two years ago was my last game in the league in this building, so I don't know if it's fate or coincidence, but I'm just grateful for the opportunity," Schneider said after earning the win in net for the Islanders on Sunday. "It's easy to take the league for granted when you're young and playing a lot, but things can change quickly, so always be grateful for the chances you get 

"I thought my teammates worked really hard to make my first game back in a long time as easy as possible."

After the 2019-2020 season, the Devils bought out the final two years of Schneider's contract, a seven-year, $42 million deal signed in 2014. 

Over the last two seasons, Schneider has played 26 games for the Islanders' AHL affiliate. In 24 starts with the Bridgeport Islanders this season, Schneider is 10-10-3 with a .921 SV% and a 2.68 GAA. 

Schneider was forced into duty for the big club after the Islanders announced goalie Ilya Sorokin would be out with an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old Sorokin hasn't seen action since March 27. 

"I found out [Saturday] that I was going to be playing and was just trying to do my routine, not change a whole lot that I've done to have some success; it's been exciting but a little nerve-wracking," Schneider said. "Once you settle in and you play behind those guys, the game just starts to come to you."

Over his NHL career, Schneider is 171-159-58 with a .918 SV% and a 2.43 GAA in 388 starts. 

The Islanders (32-27-9) currently sit in fifth place within the Metropolitan Division, 11 points behind the Washington Capitals (37-22-10) for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.