Focused Luongo In Class of His Own At Home for Canucks

Behind a lack-lustre road team that appeared intimidated by the big bad Bruins, Roberto Luongo was hung out to dry in games three and four of the Stanley Cup Final. Luongo and the rest of the Canucks had two of their worst games of the playoffs as they allowed the Bruins to dictate every aspect of the two contests in Boston.

Back in the comfort of Vancouver, Luongo and the Canucks bounced back for one of their most complete games of the season, fighting through heavy criticism and in-game adversity to earn a 1-0 victory in a pivotal Game Five.

Luongo did a complete 180 Friday, reverting to the hometown hero who has allowed only two goals in three games at home against the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Luongo and the rest of the team may have laid two black and gold eggs in Boston however in three Canuck victories at home Luongo has stopped 95 of 97 shots, a Conn Smythe worthy body of work.

The selective sample size of three home games is far too small for Luongo to win the Conn Smythe and his terrible time in goal on the road has certainly shattered any dreams of the playoff MVP trophy but one game away from a series victory the Stanley Cup is the only trophy Luongo’s heart truly desires.

While the away games ended in disaster for Luongo, his ability to focus in the big games throughout the playoffs has ignorantly come under question once again in these Stanley Cup Finals. Consider his body of work over this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Luongo has posted two shutouts against the Boston Bruins when the playoff series is even, tied 0-0 in Game One and again tied at 2-2 in Game Five.

Luongo has begun three of four playoff rounds with a Game One shutout victory.

In every game the Canucks have played while tied in a playoff series Luongo has allowed two goals or less, posting a .931 save percentage or better in all seven games played in this year’s playoffs.

All four of Luongo’s playoff shutouts this season have occurred in games with the series lead up for the taking.

If anything Roberto Luongo is the reason the Canucks have yet to trail a series at any point during the playoffs this season, an amazing statistic considering the amount of criticism the Canucks have caught for choking at times during the playoffs.

At worst Luongo is only at fault for letting his guard down when the Canucks have enjoyed a seemingly comfortable series lead, but he is not alone. The entire Canucks roster was sucked into a false sense of security against the Chicago Blackhawks in round one after taking a three game series lead. True to his work ethic and positive attitude Luongo responded appropriately with a big Game Seven performance, saving the city from complete disaster in the process.

After reuniting with his playoff demons in Boston the Olympic Gold Medal winner once again responded with a statement performance last night, shutting out the Bruins at home in an all important Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Inspired by the serenity of the Vancouver sea wall, Luongo tuned out fans and critics before Game Five Friday, taking an afternoon walk on the scenic path in order to clear his head and focus on the task at hand. When asked about his seawall stroll Luongo explained his Game Five preparation.

“I did it today. I don’t know if they have any seawalls in Boston, but I’m going to look for that. I put my hoody on and my headphones and I don’t know if somebody said anything, I can’t hear. But I just focus on the journey and everything I need to do to be ready for the game and that’s what gets me prepared.”

The journey has been long and ruthless yet Luongo was able to once again pull himself out of the depths of potential depression to frustrate the Bruins. This is the same Roberto Luongo who continues to be murdered by the media despite his stellar play in some big games.

Luongo knows how to win the big games.

After the latest round of Luongo bashing, one writer was confident enough to claim Tim Thomas and Carey Price (of all people) are a class above Luongo. The post entitled “Why Thomas and Price Are a Class Above Luongo” serves as a prime example of media overload. Everyone has an opinion on the story of the series during the Stanley Cup Finals, not that Luongo himself appears concerned about the opinions of fringe fans.

“The only thing I have to prove is to myself, my teammates and my family and friends. That’s who I play for. I play the game because I love it and I want to win the Stanley Cup. So that’s the only motivation I need right now,” Luongo said following Game Five.

“If Luongo’s name is engraved on the Cup this week he will not have earned an iota of additional respect from fans throughout the league, not because he is “undervalued” but because he has not yet learned that what fans already know, Luongo is not in the same class of Price and Thomas,” said CJ Shepard.

While hockey moms from Boston will attempt to devalue Luongo’s body of work with off-base opinions like those directly above, he certainly won’t lose any sleep over the criticism in the days leading up to Game Six.

“I try to block everything else out. Sometimes it’s hard to do in a city like this. You can’t let those things affect you because then they will affect your game.”

Like Luongo, Tim Thomas won’t be focussed on any off-day discussion regarding his play. Luongo’s comments regarding Maxim Lapierre’s game winning goal Friday night may have come across as confrontational towards Thomas however Luongo simply said what most of us were thinking while deviating from classic hockey clichés.

“It’s an easy save for me, but if you’re wandering out and aggressive like [Thomas] does, that’s going to happen. He might make some saves that I won’t but in a case like that, we want to take advantage of a bounce like that and make sure we’re in a good position to bury those,” Luongo told the media Friday.

It may not be advised to call out a goaltender as talented as Tim Thomas however Boston’s goaltender simply can’t play any better than he already has against the Canucks. Thomas has been without-a-doubt-lights-out throughout the playoffs and likely has the Conn Smythe locked up win or lose. So what’s wrong with a little extra confidence from the man playing opposite America’s hero?

A little swagger from the Vancouver’s former captain could be all the Canucks need to secure the Stanley Cup on the road against the Bruins.

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