Luongo good to go, doesn’t expect rust to be an issue
The Vancouver Canucks are facing a daunting stretch in their schedule and it appears Roberto Luongo will be a part of it.
The Canucks’ No. 1 puckstopper declared himself fit and ready to go after almost two weeks on the shelf with a groin strain. Luongo and his travelling mates meet the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.
“Everything is good,” Luongo said following Friday’s full team practice. “I don’t know what’s going on for Saturday’s game but, yeah, I’m good to go.”
Luongo pulled himself from a Dec. 22 game against the Winnipeg Jets after stopping an Evander Kane shot in the first period. He has missed three games since then and the Canucks have gone 1- 1- 1 in his absence.
Backup Eddie Lack blanked the Calgary Flames 2- 0 but then surrendered a combined seven goals in a shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers and a regulation defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Luongo doesn’t feel being sidelined for less than two weeks has created any rust.
“I haven’t missed that much time,” Luongo said. “I’ve been working out on the ice for the last week so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.”
Although Luongo is expected to start against the Kings, Canucks coach John Tortorella said he would reveal that information during Saturday morning’s skate.
Following the weekend double dip in Southern California, the Canucks come home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, followed by another road trip south to meet the Kings, Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes. The five teams were a combined 13151- 24 before Friday’s games.
SOCHI CALLING: The Canadian Olympic team will be announced Tuesday at 8 a. m. and Luongo admitted the anticipation is building. As the gold- medal winning goalie in 2010, he is a virtual certainty to be named by general manager Steve Yzerman.
He’s even had Martin Brodeur pumping his tires, saying he should be the starter.
“It’s always flattering for sure, and nice to hear things like that, but I don’t think it’s Marty’s decision unless he has some weight that I don’t know about,” a smiling Luongo said. “But, yeah, it’s always nice to hear things like that from one of the best of all time.
“I haven’t been too worried about the Olympics because, right now, my focus is on getting back.
“But I won’t lie. When I was watching the Winter Classic and saw the U. S. team being announced, I got a little excited about it.”
KINGS FALLING: The Canucks can expect to see an ornery Kings group after L. A. dropped its fifth straight game Thursday, 5- 0 to a St. Louis Blues team missing top forwards Alex Steen and captain David Backes.
The Kings have been outscored 17- 6 during their nosedive and 9- 2 in the last three. It’s the first time L. A. has lost five straight since Darryl Sutter moved behind the bench two years ago.
“I know how we’d feel if we lost five in a row, and the last one by 5- 0,” Canucks winger Chris Higgins said. “So I know exactly what they’re saying in their locker- room, I know exactly how they’re going to approach the game and how they’re going to play.
“I don’t think we should be surprised by their push, especially in the first period.”
The Kings have already beaten the Canucks twice this season, 5- 1 in L. A. and 3- 2 in overtime at Rogers Arena.
QUOTABLE: “This week is no different than last week. We need the points and whoever you play, it’s not a big difference between the top teams in the league and the bottom teams.” — Daniel Sedin on the Canucks’ tough schedule for the next two weeks.