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Luongo perfect again as Canucks blank Blue Jackets

Nov 30, 2007 - 7:10 AM VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- Roberto Luongo cannot be beaten these days.

Luongo posted his career-high third consecutive shutout and defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Lukas Krajicek provided the offense as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-0, on Thursday.

With the victory, the Canucks improved to 8-1-2 in their last 11 home games.

Entering without having allowed a goal since 4:26 of the third period of a 3-1 loss to St. Louis on Friday, Luongo continued his masterful play in this one. The two-time All-Star made 26 saves, turning aside five shots in the first period, 15 in the second and six in the third en route to his fourth shutout of the season and 35th career.

"Obviously, you don't get three straight shutouts in a row without really being on top of your game," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "In the second, we got outchanced something like 9-3 and didn't play a good period, and again he kept us in and gave us a chance to win another game. We all know what he means to our team, and we're really happy to have him with us."

"It's no secret he's one of the best goalies in the league," Blue Jackets left wing Rick Nash said. "But in saying that, we didn't work hard enough to beat him. When you play against that kind of goalie, you really have to work him, and we weren't good enough tonight."

In the process, Luongo extended his streak of not allowing a tally to 193 minutes, 56 seconds, eclipsing the franchise mark of 184:20 set by Ken Lockett from March 29-April 4, 1975.

"(The record) is nice, but right now, we've got to look at the way we're winning games and the type of hockey we want to be playing," Luongo said. "I think the whole group should feel good about themselves. ... They really did a really great job in front of me."

"He plays just like this most games he plays, and obviously, the last three games, he's been unbelievable," Ohlund said. "He gives us a chance to win each and every night. Especially us defensemen, I think you appreciate that a lot."

The all-time NHL record of 461:29 was posted by Alec Connell, who posted six straight shutouts in 1927-28, while the modern-day mark of 332:01 was accomplished by Brian Boucher in 2003-04, when he notched five consecutive blankings.

"Louie was sick again back there," Canucks captain Markus Naslund said. "He's the backbone and he's a leader. It's great to see him get that kind of recognition."

Luongo made several big saves, including one on Nash just over six minutes into the game with his right pad. The netminder also came up big late in the middle session, denying Dan Fritsche's backhander from the top of the crease.

"I told our players at the start of the game, 'If you're going to beat a goalie like him, you're going to have to outwork him," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We went soft on three obvious goals and he came back and made the save. ... You're going to have to outwork the goaltender when he's in a zone like he is right now."

After a scoreless first period, Ohlund gave Luongo all the offensive support he needed just over four minutes into the middle session with a fluke goal.

From the far side of the right faceoff circle, the defenseman attempted a cross-slot pass. But the puck caromed off the skate of Columbus captain Adam Foote, off the left goalpost and into the net at 4:05, giving Vancouver a 1-0 edge.

"I think it was something between a shot and a pass, but we'll take it," Ohlund said. "I don't think it was the prettiest goal, but we got two goals and we got the win. But I don't think we played our best tonight."

"Every goal counts," Columbus goaltender Fredrik Norrena said. "It's not the way they score, it's how many they score."

It was Ohlund's fourth goal of the season and 82nd as a Canuck, putting him one behind Jyrki Lumme for the franchise lead among defensemen.

Another blue-liner tallied later in the session to double Vancouver's advantage.

With each team down a player, Daniel Sedin made a cross-crease pass from the bottom of the left circle to Krajicek, who tapped the puck past Norrena at 12:20 for a 2-0 cushion.

"Four-on-4, we cycled the puck a couple of times," said Vancouver's Henrik Sedin, who also recorded an assist on the play. "Lukas came down on the back side and Dan was able to give it to him. It was a strong play by Luke to get it in."

Norrena turned aside 19 shots for the Blue Jackets, who were shut out for the first time this season and have lost nine of their last 12 contests.

"These games are about scoring one more goal than our opponents," said Norrena, who was starting in place of the injured Pascal Leclaire. "We didn't do that. We can sit here until the morning and think we are really good, but the thing is, we're not good enough."

"Freddy played well," Nash said. "He kept us in there. It could have been easily 5- or 6-0. The two goals that did go in, I think it was off our own players."