Panthers 3 - 1 Canucks
Final
  for this game

Panthers beat Canucks in Luongo's return to Vancouver

Jan 9, 2015 - 6:43 AM Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - Roberto Luongo was victorious in his return to Vancouver as he turned aside 32 shots to help the Florida Panthers to a 3-1 victory over the Canucks on Thursday.

The veteran netminder, who set franchise records with 252 wins and 38 shutouts over eight seasons with the Canucks, tied Sabres great Dominik Hasek for 11th on the NHL's all-time win list with 389.

Jonathan Huberdeau posted two goals and an assist and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers, who rebounded from a 4-3 loss to Washington on Sunday.

Daniel Sedin lit the lamp and Ryan Miller allowed all three goals on 30 shots for the Canucks, who won their previous two games.

"That wasn't good enough," said Henrik Sedin.

After Luongo was honored with a video tribute prior to the game, Sedin welcomed his former teammate back to Rogers Arena with a snap shot from the high slot 3:39 into the contest, but the Panthers backed their netminder with three straight goals.

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it or not," Luongo said. "I didn't want to get too emotional ... the crowd reaction was great. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Huberdeau fired a quick shot off a feed from Brad Boyes behind the net, but was stopped by Miller. Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler knocked the rebound into his own net for a tie game at 9:33 of the first period.

Barkov tipped Aaron Ekblad's low shot past Miller for a 2-1 Florida lead 7:10 into the second.

Huberdeau quieted the Vancouver crowd with his second of the night as he took a stretch pass from Dmitry Kulikov and beat a stationary Miller with a quick wrister that went off the pipe and into the net with 3:17 left in the middle stanza.

Past the midway point of the third, Vancouver had a two-man advantage for 39 seconds after David Bolland was assessed a double minor for high sticking, but was unable to convert on the extended power play.

Luongo even got involved with the physical side of the game during a scrum after the whistle as he threw punches at Derek Dorsett, who pushed Willie Mitchell into the Florida goaltender with over three minutes to play.

The Canucks pulled their netminder with under two minutes left, but were unable to pull even.

Game Notes

Luongo has now defeated every NHL team ... Barkov scored his first goal since Nov. 11 against San Jose ... Vancouver went 0-for-6 on the power play ... The two teams will meet again on Jan. 19 in Florida.






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