Saturday, June 11, 2011

Bobbie Lu Comes up Big in Game 5

It's been quite a postseason for Roberto Luongo. He's posted 4 shutouts, he's been pulled 4 times. In the first 7 periods of this series, he allowed only 2 goals. In the next 4+, he allowed 12. He's been both unbelievably good and unbelievably bad in stretches, so how would he respond in Game 5? Well, any people who doubted Vancouver's decision to keep Luongo as the starter after his abysmal play in Boston were silenced. Despite being benched in favor of former Boston College netminder Cory Schneider in Game 4, Luongo was back out there for Game 5 and he was sensational. Boston had 4 first period power plays, but was unable to convert and Luongo's confidence only grew from there. He would finish the game with 31 saves and his second shutout of the finals as he brought the Canucks to within one win of their first Stanley Cup. If Luongo's past performance is any indication, that probably won't happen in Game 6 as the series returns to Boston. In road games in the 2011 postseason, Luongo is just 5-5 and is allowing just a shade under 3.5 goals per game. Conversely, when playing north of the border, he is 10-3 with 4 shutouts, has saved over 94% of the shots against him and concedes fewer than two goals a game. It's no mystery why the home team has won every game this series. The Canucks need their goalie to come up big one more time as all of Canada waits with baited breath for the nation's first Stanley Cup Winner since 1993.

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