With just over two months until the Winter Games kick off in Vancouver, Wednesday’s meeting between the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks was more than just another NHL game. Fans at the Prudential Center in Newark got to see two of the best goalies in the world face off when Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur took the ice, and the debate over who should be Canada’s starting goalie at the Olympics will only get hotter after Luongo’s stellar performance. Luongo made 27 saves against the Atlantic Division leaders, and the Sedin twins gave Vancouver all the offense they would need to win this one, as Vancouver kicked off a four game road trip with a 5-2 win.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin each had two points in the first period, as did Alexander Edler and Alex Burrows, helping the Canucks build a 3-2 lead in the first. Burrows kicked off the scoring with a goal assisted by both Sedin twins, followed by Sami Salo’s blast from the point. Daniel Sedin scored his 2nd goal of the season to give Vancouver a 3-0 lead. It would turn out to be a game winner, as Luongo took over after the first.
Niclas Bergfors and Travis Zajac pulled the Devils within striking distance with two goals in the last five minutes of the first, but Luongo closed the door after that, shutting out New Jersey over the last 40 minutes of play. Edler scored his second goal of the game just over a minute into the 3rd, and Jannik Hansen gave the Canucks some extra insurance with his goal four minutes later.
Luongo made 22 of his 27 saves in the last two periods, including 3 from his back on Zach Parise late in the 2nd. Taking nothing away from Martin Brodeur, a first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to hang them up, but this night belonged to Luongo. New Jersey is one of the hottest teams in the East right now, coming off a November in which they lost only 2 games in regulation, going 9-2-1 and rocketing to the top of what is arguably the toughest division in hockey. Thanks to Luongo, they are now 0-1 in December.
This game by no means will determine who starts for the Canadians in Vancouver come February. Don’t forget, there’s a young French Canadian with a brand new Stanley Cup ring on his finger by the name of Marc-Andre Fleury playing in Pittsburgh who will certainly have his name thrown into the mix. But as any Canadian hockey player can tell you, when you pull that red maple leaf on your chest, the only acceptable result is a victory. Steve Yzerman may have the most unenviable job in sports for the next two months, as he is tasked with putting together a gold medal team for Canada.