Currently: - Game info: 7:30 pm EST Mon Mar 29, 2004
- TV: FSS, FSFL
Roberto Luongo will be back in goal for the Florida Panthers when they host the surging Carolina Hurricanes.
Luongo should be well-rested after setting the NHL single-season mark for saves during a 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday. Luongo made 42 saves to give him an NHL-record 2,219 on the season. That broke the mark of 2,214 set by Toronto’s Felix Potvin in 1996-97.
Luongo has also set career highs for wins (24), goals-against average (2.36 GAA), shutouts (7) and save-percentage (.933).
Since January, he’s been at his best when he’s been busy—the Panthers are 6-1-3-1 when Luongo has faced at least 40 shots, the only regulation loss among them coming Thursday against Carolina.
Florida has lost five in a row overall, including a 3-0 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday.
Steve Shields, starting in place of Luongo, allowed three goals on only 19 shots—the lowest total Florida has allowed this season.
Luongo rested after facing a total of 95 shots in his two previous games.
The Hurricanes are playing some of their best hockey despite being out of the playoff picture. Carolina has 18 points in the last 13 games and has lost only once in regulation in nine games (6-1-0-2).
Rookie defenseman Allan Rourke ended New York goalie Rick DiPietro’s shutout streak in the first period and the Hurricanes went on to beat the Islanders 3-2 on Saturday.
Sean Hill and Jaroslav Svoboda also scored for the Hurricanes as they picked up their second straight win.
Kevin Weekes made 36 saves, including 16 in the third period, to beat his former teammates. Weeks has been steady all season, going 23-28-10 with and posting six shutouts.
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