Roberto Luongo has been a tale to two completely different goaltenders during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. At times he looks remarkable in net while playing a big part in the Canucks’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Other times he finds himself being yanked from games due to very poor play.
The finals so far has been much of the same for Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks. In the first two games, Luongo only allowed 2 goals winning the first game 1-0 and the second game 3-2 in OT.
Then things turned.
In games 3 and 4 Luongo was responsible for letting in all 12 goals against Vancouver while losing game 3 8-1 and game 4 4-0 (he was pulled in-game 4 after the fourth goal given up).
Then on Friday night, needing good play back at home, Luongo delivered turning away 31 shots giving the Vancouver Canucks a 1-0 victory putting them 1 win away from the franchises first Stanley Cup title.
“It’s not the first time it’s happened,” said Luongo. “I know what I need to do to get ready and have my A game.
“I thought we all played well and we all stepped up our level of play to take it to a new level we needed to win this game. We do whatever it takes. That’s what we need to do to win.”
Throughout his time in Vancouver, Luongo has received plenty of criticism from pundits around the NHL deservingly so. Luongo is often seen as on of it not thee best goaltender in the NHL who simply cannot put his team over in the playoffs despite having one of the better teams in the league playing in front of him.
In this years playoffs Luongo has played in 28 games going 15-8 with 55 goals against. He has a 2.43 GAA and 4 shutouts.
Source: TSN.ca
