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Luongo, Canucks to face Jokinen, Panthers

Feb 1, 2008 - 2:11 PM Vancouver (26-21-5) at Florida (22-25-5) 7:30 pm EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) - The one thing the Vancouver Canucks figured they could depend on this season was goaltender Roberto Luongo. But lately the All-Star netminder has been anything but stellar.

Luongo and the Canucks look to get back on track Friday when they visit the lowly Florida Panthers.

Vancouver has lost eight of its last 10 games to drop into ninth place in the Western Conference. The lowest-scoring team in the Northwest Division, the Canucks rely heavily on Luongo.

Luongo skipped the All-Star Game on Sunday and Vancouver's first game back on Tuesday to be with his pregnant wife, and his play of late has suffered. He has lost six of his last eight starts after going 20 starts without losing back-to-back outings.

The 28-year-old Quebec native allowed all four goals in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

The Panthers have lost six of their last eight games and are just two points ahead of Tampa Bay in the race to stay out of last place in the Eastern Conference. They dropped a 1-0 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, failing to score despite taking 31 shots.

Leading-scorer Olli Jokinen has 49 points this season, but has totaled just two points - both assists - in nine career games against the Canucks.