G Roberto Luongo Named NHL's Defensive Player of the Week

Cats Netminder Earns Weekly Honor After Posting 3-1-0 Mark

SUNRISE, Fla. – The National Hockey League announced today that G Roberto Luongo has been named the league's Defensive Player of the Week, after backstopping the Panthers to a 3-1-0 record with a 2.25 GAA and a .942 save percentage in four games played.

Luongo opened last week by making 31 saves as the Panthers defeated the Nashville Predators, 7-3, on Tuesday, Dec 13. On Thursday, Dec. 15, he made 34 saves as Florida defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in overtime. Luongo made 29 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Atlanta's Marian Hossa (with the save Luongo improved to 8-8 for his career in penalty shot attempts), as the Panthers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Thrashers on Saturday, Dec. 17. Last night, Luongo made a season high 53 saves as the Cats defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2.

This marks the second time that Luongo has earned the league's Defensive Player of the Week, as he was awarded the honor after the first week of the season when he posted shutouts in his first two starts and went 2-1-0 with a 0.67 GAA and .979 save percentage in three games. The Montreal, Quebec native has appeared in 32 of Florida's 35 games this season, posting a 12-15-4 mark with a 3.17 GAA and a .913 GAA.