"It's not going to change my mindset," Schneider said. "I have to just be ready from the drop of the puck and have a good first five minutes. That's what I'm concerned about. Obviously, it's nice to play at home in front of your crowd."
Schneider has played once this season at Prudential Center, in relief of Keith Kinkaid on December 3rd, when he stopped five of six shots he faced in the third period against Tampa Bay. Schneider, however, isn't looking at a home start any differently than he looks at any other game this season.
The Devils begin another set of back-to-back with Vegas visiting New Jersey tonight and the Devils visiting Nashville on Saturday.
Keith Kinkaid will start tomorrow night against Nashville.
"We've got six games until Christmas," coach John Hynes said. "He's got to play, Keith [Kinkaid] has got to play. We want this to be a competitive battle. We felt Cory looked good, his best game was in Anaheim, he had some tough bounces that went in but he had key saves for us that really kept it at 4-3 late in the third period. He made big saves in overtime, we liked his competitiveness and his compete. We liked how he played as the game went on [in Anaheim] and we felt like he deserves the opportunity to play tonight."
There will be decisions to be made up-front for head coach John Hynes, as Taylor Hall will be a game time decision, as will forward Stefan Noesen.
Hall has been dealing with lower body soreness and was pulled off the ice by team trainers at practice on Thursday for precautionary reasons. While he did jump on the ice Friday morning with his teammates for morning skate, he left early and did not return. For Noesen, he did not participate in morning skate with coach John Hynes confirming the 25-year-old was not feeling well this morning.
When Hall and Noesen's status are made available prior to the game, there will be a clearer idea of how the Devils will line up against the Golden Knights, with the opportunity for Hynes to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen depending on his two forwards availabilities.
