Roberto Luongo stops Marner in a breakaway challenge in Panthers-Canucks themed pads
When the breakaway challenge began at the NHL All-Star Skills Contest, former Vancouver Canucks and Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Roberto Luongo took to the ice in full goalie gear— but more on that later. Luongo blocked the first shot by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who was dressed as Don Johnson in Miami Vice.
Luongo had a good style of his own, as he wore custom pads that paid homage to his days as a Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canuck. Luongo’s pads feature the Canucks’ stick-in-rink logo along with the C, a nod to Luongo’s old mask from his brief tenure as Canucks captain. At the bottom, the pads also include a section dedicated to the 2010 Winter Olympics, when Luongo beat the Canadian team to a gold medal in Vancouver.
Luongo and his son Gianni Luongo were subsequently interviewed by former Canuck Kevin Bieksa.
We are 40 minutes deep and we see 5 skaters finish the “Fastest Skater” contest and a breakaway previously attempted by Mitch Marner…
here Bieksa interviews Bobby L#NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/fJTu4W522U
— Cody Severtson (@CodySevertson) February 4, 2023
We will be completely honest with you. The skills competition was very uneventful at times and downright confusing. But that’s who we are can All I can tell you is that Bo Horvat and Elias Pettersson – remember, my Pacific Division teammates – went 2-0 together during the Tendy Tandem event, with Pettersson trying to lose five holes on Connor Hellebuyck.
Later, Luongo was beaten five holes by Sergei Ovechkin, with assists going to Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.
Luongo is the Canucks’ all-time leader in both wins (252) and shutouts with 38. Luongo also has the best saves and goals against average of any Canucks goaltender with at least 100 games played . In 2020, the Florida Panthers, which Luongo started and ended his career after eight seasons in Vancouver, retired his jersey last year. Luongo was the first player to ever have his jersey retired by the Panthers.
Luongo is currently a senior advisor to the general manager of the Panthers, who are hosting this year’s All-Star Celebration. The 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament takes place on Saturday at 12:00 pm Pacific Time.
Source: canuckarmy.com
