Goalies Luongo, Reimer could return as soon as next week
SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers could receive a pair of reinforcements next week.
On Saturday morning before Florida’s game against Detroit, Panthers coach Bob Boughner said injured goaltenders Roberto Luongo and James Reimer would definitely “get more active next week and possibly be ready to be part of the lineup.”
A lower-body injury has kept Luongo out since Dec. 4, when he hurt himself making a right pad save on New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock’s slap shot. Saturday would be the 23rd consecutive game Luongo missed. Though he’s been on the ice since mid-December, Luongo has yet to participate fully in a Panthers practice.
Reimer pulled his groin against the Stars on Jan. 23 while trying to make a right pad save on Dallas defenseman Greg Pateryn’s slap shot that slid wide. Reimer was scheduled to miss at least two weeks. That twoweek mark will arrive on Tuesday.
Boughner said he’d like both Luongo and Reimer to practice Monday, but he would wait and listen to what goaltending coach Robb Tallas says.
“They both had great reports after they got off the ice today,” Boughner said. “They felt great, which is really a first for us that both of them felt great at the same time. Hopefully, they keep doing that in the next couple days and we’ll see them with full equipment on in practice here shortly.”
In an abbreviated 15-game workload this season, Luongo has a sparkling .928 save percentage and 2.62 goals against average. Reimer, meanwhile, started 17 consecutive games in Luongo’s absence and, overall, has a .911 save percentage and 3.04 GAA.
Without Luongo and Reimer, Harri Sateri and Samuel Montembeault form the Panthers’ goaltending duo. Sateri has been solid in his three starts since Reimer’s injury, posting a .937 save percentage. His performance even persuaded the Florida coaching staff to delay Montembeault’s NHL debut.
Boughner said the Panthers thought about playing the 21-year-old against Buffalo on Thursday, but instead rode the hot hand in Sateri.
“Harri had such a good game on the island [against New York], we wanted to continue that,” Boughner said. “He played well again in Buffalo. He’s back in tonight. As much as we’d like to give Sammy a game, I think that Harri’s deserved the chance to start again. Hopefully, he can do the same.”
Should Luongo or Reimer return next week, Montembeault’s window to play shrinks. He would likely be sent down to AHL affiliate Springfield instead of serving as a backup for an extended period of time. Florida hosts Vancouver on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Friday.