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Canucks coach sticks to his plan, starts Luongo tonight

Cory Schneider

Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Cory Schneider, left, and goalie Roberto Luongo talk after the team’s 7-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault’s original plan to start the season in goal was to have Cory Schneider play opening night against Anaheim and have Roberto Luongo follow up the next night against Edmonton. After seeing Schneider give up five goals before being pulled in the Canucks 7-3 loss to the Ducks, some thought the plan might change.

Turns out Vigneault is going to stick to the plan as Luongo gets the call in goal against the Oilers tonight. The coach says sticking with the plan is the way to go.

“Nothing happened (on Saturday) night that would make me change our plan,” explained Vigneault.

Luongo gave up two goals in relief of Schneider. It’s safe to say this situation is only going to fester as long as pucks keep getting by the goalies. Schneider was deemed the No. 1 goalie at the start of the year while Luongo made it clear he’d be OK with being traded elsewhere. Now things feel up in the air as Schneider doesn’t get the chance to redeem himself right away.