When Roberto Luongo was traded back to Florida last season, there was mixed reaction in Vancouver and celebration in Sunrise. Whether it was deserved or not, Luongo was widely disliked in Vancouver and many fans called for a change. They got it. If the start of this season is any indication as to what they gave up, they might not be too thrilled with that move as this season progresses.

The Panthers may or not make the playoffs this year. They are clearly still lacking a "finishing" mentality when it comes to taking advantage of their offensive chances. They also have shown an awful tendency of taking way too many penalties, especially 200 feet from their own net. But the reason they are 2-2-3 while only scoring 10 goals through 7 games is because of Luongo(and one excellent start from backup Al Montoya at Washington).

Luongo, 35, will be the first to tell you the first period against New Jersey in the home opener where he gave up 5 goals on 14 shots before being pulled was not his best effort. He was also let down by a very porous defense that game that was obviously still getting its systems and positioning down. Take away that 22 minute span, and Luongo has been sensational.

He has stopped 117 of the last 123 shots he has faced, including recording his 67th career shutout in Buffalo, and his GAA is .954 over that stretch. His last performance against Arizona was probably his best, but only because his team put him in difficult positions all night.

Stick discipline is still a big problem on this team, and those types of "fixable" transgressions(as head coach Gerard Gallant calls them) were on full display on this road trip. But the 8 penalties taken against the Coyotes, including 3 tripping, 2 hooking, and a high stick, were ridiculous. The fact that the Panthers were able to squeeze out a point after only having two man-advantages of their own is remarkable.

All because of Luongo.

His 39 saves were typical of exactly why GM Dale Tallon brought Lui back to South Florida. Only his 52 save effort at San Jose last season could be considered a better performance.

This team knows after one of the more successful road trips in franchise history earning 6 of 8 possible points, it could have been better. They need to get better. Stay out of the box. Finish their chances. To be upset about this road trip shows this team is getting hungrier.

As a team they can breathe easy they have a warrior between the pipes. If healthy, Luongo can keep them hanging around playoff contention as this group works on their offensive issues.

As Luongo smashed his stick against the right post after the Coyotes scored the game-winner in overtime, you knew that game stung more than usual. He was the sole reason the Panthers were in a position to win at all and he wanted to finish it off. Yet another penalty put him in a brutal spot. While he was unable to make that one last save, there are clearly more solid performances on the horizon. It's up to the team as a whole to deliver the effort needed to get him wins.

Unlike years past, the goaltending cannot be considered an excuse for not succeeding.

Dan Spiegel
Florida Panthers Media

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