Vigneault made Schneider his surprise starter Tuesday night against Vancouver's archrivals, the Chicago Blackhawks, and before the game suggested he wanted Schneider to learn how to play in the big games.

Schneider delivered, much the way he did in early January against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, as he backstopped the Canucks to a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Blackhawks at Rogers Arena.

Not a bad pair of January bookends for Schneider, who stopped 37 of 39 shots and carried the Canucks for much of the night.

"It was a heck of a game, I think everyone got their money's worth," said Schneider. "A good ending for us, a big goal by Danny [Sedin] there at the end. It's never a dull moment with these two teams."

Daniel Sedin never would have had the opportunity to score his franchise-record 10th overtime goal without the play of Schneider, who was especially good in the second period when the Blackhawks outshot Vancouver 15-6.

His best save came late in the second when he lost the puck behind the net to Morrison. The former Canuck - who was just traded last week to the Blackhawks - skated out front and, with Schneider flat on his stomach, took a shot that seemed destined for the mostly empty net.

But Schneider reached up with his left arm and somehow managed to bat the puck away.

"I just completely botched it behind the net," Schneider said. "I just went to move it and completely fanned on it. Thankfully [Alex Edler] bought me a second or two to sort of get back in there but other than that I just remember reaching as far as I could and feeling the puck hit me. But I think I was more upset with myself than happy about the save."

Sedin's winning goal at 3:37 of overtime came when he converted a pass from behind the net by brother Henrik. The assist ended Henrik Sedin's five-game pointless streak, his longest drought since the 2004-05 lockout.

Just over a minute earlier, the Canucks captain had been robbed when Chicago goalie Corey Crawford came across his crease to make a huge save.

"It was frustrating to see Hank miss that chance one shot before," Daniel Sedin said. "Our line needed that goal as much as the team did."

The Blackhawks seemed to come at Schneider in waves, often on out-numbered breaks, in the second period. Schneider made a couple of big-time saves on Viktor Stalberg and another on Dave Bolland. He also made huge saves in overtime off Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews.

"In the second period there, our puck management wasn't very good, which let them use their two biggest strengths, their speed and their skill," Vigneault said.

"They came at us really hard and Cory had to make some real quality saves to keep us in the game. And he did."

Schneider was making his first start in three weeks and said he was determined to make the most of it. Most observers were surprised on Monday when Vigneault named him the starter against the Blackhawks.

"It's quality over quantity, right," Schneider said.

"It's exciting to get these opportunities. I don't get them a whole lot, rightfully so because of the way Roberto [Luongo] plays and he's great in big games. I think for me it's an opportunity and I can't let them slip by or afford to have a bad game.

"The first period was about getting my timing back. I felt much better in the second and third. It's just a lot of fun to play in big games."

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