The Canadian's effort helped the Stampede collect its 15th win from 16 games - its only loss came in overtime to the Canterbury Red Devils.
The next time the Queenstown based team slides out on the ice, it will be for the first of three finals, if required, against the Red Devils. Game one is in Christchurch in two weeks.
But while the Stampede has set the benchmark this winter, it was the Dunedin Thunder that started stronger at the Dunedin Ice Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Bradley Apps and Luke Pickering banged in a goal each for the home side.
The Stampede clawed back a goal through Canadian forward Jade Portwood, but trailed 2 1 with three minutes remaining in the opening stanza.
That can be a long time in ice hockey. The Thunder certainly found that out.
American Mike McRae slotted a second for the Stampede to level the scores and then the visitors whacked in another two in rapid succession.
Suddenly, the Stampede led 4-2 and it proved to be the turning point in the match.
Paris Heyd pushed in a third goal for the Thunder following a goal mouth melee early in the second period, and later Mat Enright rammed in a deflection while Joe Orr got the credit for a goal that was tipped in by a Stampede player.
But the Stampede maintained its advantage, with Schneider adding two more goals to his first period effort.
On Saturday, the Stampede beat the Thunder 9-6. The match was won in the second period when the visitors posted four unanswered goals.
• Stampede forward Cameron White had to make a dash back to Queenstown early yesterday when his wife, Leah, went into labour ahead of schedule. The couple welcomed a baby boy into the world.
