The Florida Panthers announced on Monday that they will be without goaltender Roberto Luongo for an extended period of time. The star goaltender suffered a lower-body injury in Monday’s game against the New York Islanders. Luongo was forced to leave the game just two and a half minutes into the second period after making a save on a slapshot from defenceman Ryan Pulock. He was replaced by back-up James Reimer.
BREAKING: Roberto Luongo has been injured and had to be helped off the ice. pic.twitter.com/ekJvZJSrdw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 5, 2017
“Whether that’s three weeks, four weeks, five weeks; we’ll see how his rehab goes,” Panthers head coach Bob Boughner said on Wednesday. “Definitely out for a while. Obviously lower body, and it’s going to be an extended period of time.”
Luongo to miss ‘an extended period of time’ with lower-body injury.
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— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) December 6, 2017
Florida Panthers Goaltender Roberto Luongo Out For Extended Period
Luongo, 38, is 6-6-1 this year with a 2.61 goals-against-average but those numbers do not tell the whole story. He has arguably been the Panthers best player and is the backbone of the team with a .928 save percentage. Luongo is an 18-year NHL veteran who has played with the Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Islanders.
Reimer is 4-6-3 this season with a 3.67 goals-against average and .892 save percentage. He took the role of top goalie on the Panthers earlier in the year, when Luongo had a hand injury.
“Last time he had to be in this position, there were some ups and some downs, but for the most part he’s a good goalie and we have to support him,” Boughner said. “We weren’t as good back then as we are now defensively, so we’re looking to help him out a little more. We’ve got to make sure we give him good support and [Reimer] will make the saves. All I ask of him, and he knows this, is to give us a chance to win. And if he gives us a chance to win, we’ll be in every game.”
The Panthers called up goalie Harri Sateri from Springfield to back-up Reimer.
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