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Luongo, Canucks attempt to spoil Blue Jackets' season opener

Oct 6, 2006 - 1:32 PM Vancouver (1-0-0) at Columbus (0-0-0) 7:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - Roberto Luongo looks to spoil the Columbus Blue Jackets' season opener Friday when the Vancouver Canucks visit Nationwide Arena.

Acquired in an offseason trade from the Florida Panthers involving troubled right wing Todd Bertuzzi, Luongo owns a 2-1-0 record in four career starts against Columbus. Both of his wins against the Blue Jackets have been shutouts.

The 2004 finalist for the Vezina Trophy got off to a good start with his new team Thursday, posting a season-opening 3-1 victory over Detroit. Luongo had 27 saves and helped the Canucks kill all nine of the Red Wings' power plays. Trevor Linden scored his 300th career goal as a Canuck and Markus Naslund and Sami Salo also tallied.

Wings Fredrik Modin and former Canuck Anson Carter will make their season debut for Columbus. Modin tallied 31 times for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and Carter scored a career-high 33 goals with his old club.

Pascal Leclaire will take over the duties as goaltender for the Blue Jackets since Marc Denis was traded to Tampa Bay for Modin.

Columbus veteran Sergei Fedorov will miss the opener due to a shoulder injury.

Vancouver took three of four games with Columbus last season.