Luongo finalist for award that recognizes character excellence

Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo was been named one of three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey” on Saturday.

Luongo joins New Jersey’s Brian Boyle and Carolina’s Jordan Staal as the finalists for this season’s Masterton Trophy. The winner was selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the regular season and will be announced during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 20.

The 39-year-old goaltender will play his 19th NHL season when October rolls around, after a season in which he missed significant time due to injuries. Luongo missed time because of injuries to his hand (six games), groin (27 games) and ribs (one game). He was the oldest goaltender in the NHL this past season and the sixtholdest player to appear in a game.

During the final week of the regular season, Luongo became just the third goaltender ever to play in 1,000 NHL games and could move into third place on the all-time wins list next season. He has four more years on a contract that ends after the 2021-22 season.

When he was healthy this past season, Luongo was incredible. He posted a .929 save percentage (his best since 2003-04) to go with a 2.47 goals against average. When the team needed wins while trying secure the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, coach Bob Boughner turned to Luongo to lead them. The Panthers missed the postseason for the fifth time in the last six seasons, falling one point short of clinching a berth.

Luongo also played a big role in the Panthers’ efforts after a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas killed 17 people and injured another 17. Before the Feb. 22 game against Washington, Luongo delivered an emotional speech that recognized the teachers at the school and praised the student activists.

Jaromir Jagr in 2016 is the only Panthers player ever to win the Masterton Trophy.

On Friday, Panthers center Aleksander Barkov was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.

JOE SKIPPER/AP Luongo is one of three Bill Masterton finalists.