With the Stanley Cup playoffs in sight, Cory Schneider is about to begin the National Hockey League’s version of final exams. And if the past few weeks are any indication, the Vancouver Canucks’ starting netminder is ready for the big tests, after earning great grades on his homework assignments, midterms, and pop quizzes.

After a 4–2 loss at home to Phoenix on February 26, Schneider offered up some blunt self-analysis, telling reporters that he was tired of being an average goalie and knew he needed to be better than he’d been that night and to that point in the season.

Well, the 27-year-old has been true to his word—and then some—particularly on home ice, where Schneider hasn’t lost in regulation time since berating himself. Since the beginning of March, he is 9-0-1 in his 10 starts at Rogers Arena, and he’s currently riding an eight-game win streak in front of the home fans.

The results are impressive and have helped the Canucks clinch their fifth straight Northwest Division regular-season title. But look past the outcomes to see the real story of Schneider’s recent play and you get a better sense of the main reason the Canucks could make some noise in the postseason. Schneider has surrendered a total of only seven goals during the eight-game home win streak, posting three shutouts in the process.

Although the team hasn’t always played well in front of him—take Detroit outshooting the Canucks 34-14 (and 21-3 over the final 25 minutes) in that game on April 20—Schneider has been there time and time again, standing tall as the last line of defence. The Canucks have $9.3 million invested in goaltending this season, so they have every right to expect big saves. And right now, particularly at home, Schneider is providing the type of netminding the team will need to push on deep into the playoffs.

“It’s been a tough season, with the condensed schedule and the travel.…When you get home, you’re able to get the things you need in your own rink. You get to sleep in your own bed and see your family, and that recharges you a little bit,” Schneider told the Georgia Straight after a 3–1 win over league-leading Chicago on April 22, when asked to explain the recent run of home-ice success. “I think we’ve always taken pride in being a very good road team—although we haven’t been lately—so if you’re going to struggle on the road a little bit, you have to make sure you get your points at home.”

Schneider and the Canucks have done that by grabbing 19 of the last 20 points possible at Rogers Arena. The games haven’t all been works of art, but the win over the Blackhawks was as complete as the hockey team has looked for an entire game all season. And with the playoffs on the horizon, the timing of the Canucks’ best effort of the year, coupled with the sustained run of superb play from Schneider, should serve as a message to potential playoff opponents about what they’re in for when they touch down in this city.

By winning the division, the Canucks have ensured themselves home-ice advantage in the opening round of the postseason, at the very least. It’s up to the team to make that mean something.

“I think we are smarter with the puck; we make better decisions and we communicate better—knowing who has who, where guys want to be, and where guys need other guys to be to receive the puck,” Schneider explained when pressed for specifics on why the Canucks have transformed into home-ice heroes. “It’s not too much, but it’s just little things that we focus on that make us that much better.”

The Detroit game notwithstanding, the Canucks have been better at home in their own zone, allowing Schneider to see shots and clearing rebounds before they become second-chance scoring opportunities. And the Canucks’ penalty killing—of which goaltending is a huge part—has been sensational over the second half of the season: the team hasn’t allowed a power-play goal against during the eight-game run at home.

So there are lots of little things that have added up to big results for the Canucks as they head into the postseason. With a red-hot goaltender, anything is possible. And although questions persist about the team’s overall consistency, no one can question the play of Schneider.

With complete confidence in their main man behind them, the Canucks believe they can produce enough offence to get the job done—particularly in their own house.

“If you’re going to build momentum for the playoffs, you have to start in your own end and from there out work on a few things,” captain Henrik Sedin said. “It starts with clean breakouts, five guys back and coming up the ice together, then we’re going to get our offence. We know that.”

The Canucks haven’t needed to fill the net lately because, with the play of Schneider, one goal has been enough for victory on some nights. However, that’s a dangerous way to play—especially in the playoffs—when something as simple as a bad bounce or a bad call can sink a team sitting back and trying to protect a one-goal lead.

But as long as they’ve got the lead, the Canucks like their chances. And why wouldn’t they, with a goalie who’s virtually unbeatable on home ice these days? If Schneider stays that way, the Canucks could be playing for a while yet this spring.