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Luongo seeks to continue dominance of Capitals

Oct 27, 2006 - 2:06 PM Washington (3-2-3) at Vancouver (6-4-1) 10:00 pm EDT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - Roberto Luongo owned the Washington Capitals last season with the Florida Panthers. The Vancouver Canucks hope that magic will continue.

Luongo is expected to be in goal for the Canucks, who look for their fourth victory in five games Friday in their only encounter of the season with the Capitals.

Acquired by Vancouver in a six-player trade with Florida on June 23, the 27-year-old Luongo was 7-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average against Washington last season. That performance boosted his overall record to 35-30-9 in 2005-2006.

During that stretch, Luongo won a pair of shootouts against the Capitals, posted a 5-0 shutout February 7 and made 53 saves in a 3-2 victory December 18.

Since joining the Canucks, Luongo is 6-3-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average, including his only shutout of the campaign, Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing the second contest of a four-game road trip, the Capitals snapped a two-game skid with Wednesday's 5-3 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche.

Reigning Calder Cup winner Alexander Ovechkin scored his fifth goal of the season on a power play, Dainius Zubrus added his fourth and Olaf Kolzig made 45 saves for Washington.

Vancouver has won three straight encounters against the Capitals and six of the last eight. Washington has not beaten the Canucks since February 14, 2001.