By Gary Lawless

One need look no further than last season's Winnipeg Blue Bombers to realize it can take two quarterbacks to win a Grey Cup. Two goalies are also often required to get the job done in the AHL post-season.

When Blue QB Kevin Glenn went down, the Bombers were forced to go with untested Ryan Dinwiddie and our cousins in Saskatchewan are still drunk over the Grey Cup result.

For the Moose, losing No. 1 man Drew MacIntyre somewhere along the Calder Cup road would be perilous but not necessarily a kill shot. Rookie Cory Schneider, who earlier this season looked woefully unprepared for life in the AHL, has come on strong the last month and for the Moose it's created the luxurious problem of having two goalies from which to choose.

"There's no doubt, if I can get into a situation where it's just one goalie, we're either winning all our games or we're staying healthy," said Moose coach Scott Arniel, following the club's workout at Gateway on Tuesday morning. "There's no controversy with those two. They get along well and trust each other. Schneider has got his game where he wants it and Drew was player of the week last week. It's a good situation. A young goalie on the rise and a so-called veteran at the top of his game."

MacIntyre has been excellent all season and was named a mid-season all-star. Schneider has seen the ups and downs associated with a goalie in his first pro season. But lately, after having some scratching their heads, the Boston College alum has lived up to his first-round pick status.

"It took awhile to get used to things and to adjust to the pace. I had a few realizations about what it takes to play here," said Schneider, winner of his last four starts. "I've been getting consistent help from Rick (St. Croix, goalie coach) and he's done wonders for my game.

"It's obvious that Drew is the playoff-tested veteran but you look at the past, lots of teams win with two guys and need two guys. You never know what's going to happen."

Schneider may be the understudy but there's no lack of confidence behind his mask.

"At this time of the year, the coach wouldn't be calling my name if he didn't trust me to win games because what we need now is points," said Schneider. "It's good to know he has confidence in me to get a win when we need one. It's about being a pro and being prepared. My games don't come as often but I have to be sharp when they do."

Schneider says he's enjoying the team concept needed to succeed in pro hockey.

"When I got here the coach told me I had to win his trust and the respect of my teammates. When I got here maybe they thought they needed to score six goals to get a win with me in the net but now they're blocking shots and playing great defence in front of me. That's a sign that I've earned some of their respect," said Schneider.

Arniel says the Moose will put their fate in MacIntyre's hands with Schneider waiting in the wings.

"You need two guys. Sometimes it's the schedule and others it's just a chance to throw another look at the opponent. It's no secret here. Drew is 1A here and Cory is 1B. You have to get to the playoffs and have both guys healthy. We'll get Drew ready to go. Drew has earned the opportunity and we'll have Cory ready as well."

Notes: The Moose released centre Josh Prudden on Tuesday and he will join the Fresno Falcons of the ECHL. Prudden, 28, appeared in six games with the Moose, scoring one goal.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Spring fling

It's become an annual game inside the game around Mooseland. Each spring the club stumbles into its own form of goalie-guessing. This season there's no controversy as of yet but with rookie Cory Schneider finding his game of late, the Moose have the enviable problem of two solid choices in net.

2004-05 -- Alex Auld and Wade Flaherty

Coach Randy Carlyle names Flaherty his starter at the last minute. Flaherty goes on a run and the Moose advance to the Western Conference Final.

2005-06 -- Flaherty and Maxime Ouellet

Flaherty begins the playoffs but gets nicked in the second round and Ouellet steps in. Flaherty watches from the stands as the Moose blow a three-goal lead in Game 7 of the North Division Final.

2006-07 -- Flaherty and Drew MacIntyre

The duo shares the net all season and pushes the club to a North Division regular-season banner. Flaherty is injured late in the season and MacIntyre wins the first round before the two split the duties in the North Division Final and stall in Game 6, losing to Carey Price and the Hamilton Bulldogs.

2007-08 -- MacIntyre and Schneider

Schneider struggled throughout the first half of the season while MacIntyre put up all-star numbers. But Schneider has found his way of late and the club now has two capable goaltenders to call on. Stay tuned.