Panthers G Luongo (groin) returns to practice
Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo practiced Thursday for the first time since injuring his groin in a game against the New York Islanders on Dec. 4.
Luongo has missed the team's last 24 games since suffering the injury.
"It's been a while," Luongo said. "It's been a tough road here the last couple months. A lot of ups and downs, but just excited to be back at practice right now, obviously just to rejoin my teammates on the ice for some real drills. Just a matter of now getting my timing back and making sure that I'm at the level that I need to be at to help the team win games."
Luongo's return to practice was delayed by a couple of setbacks that altered his timetable. No return date is set for the 38-year-old, but head coach Bob Boughner is eyeing next week.
"Even though he had a couple setbacks, he looks like he is definitely moving in the right direction for next week," Boughner said.
For his part, Luongo is hopeful he'll be back during the team's five-game road trip set to begin Monday against the Edmonton Oilers.
"Obviously I'd love to get in there as quick as possible, but at the same time I want to make sure that I'm where I need to be as far as the sharpness is concerned," he said. "Hopefully sometime on the road trip but, like I said, I don't really put a timeline on it."
Before he was injured, Luongo was 6-6-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. James Reimer started the Panthers' first 17 games since losing Luongo. He injured his groin against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 23, paving the way for rookie Harri Sateri to step in.
Sateri has led the team to a four-game winning streak. Reimer also practiced Thursday and will back up Sateri against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
--Field Level Media
