illy and Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche still controlled Wednesday’s game for stretches in the first half. But Luongo made some good saves, didn’t give up many drool-worthy rebounds and was not beaten for a softy. Needing that goaltending, the Canucks gained confidence as the game wore on, before blowing it open in the third period.

To start, the Canucks struggled gaining traction, but an Avalanche team without some of its marquee players couldn’t take advantage.

Luongo was lucky early. Just 1:16 into the first, a 62-foot slapper from Jan Hejda leaked through him. The puck rested dangerously in the blue paint, and Luongo swung his stick through the crease. His knob, his undoing on so many goals in the past few years, knocked the puck out instead of in for once. Call it a reversal of fortune.

"That was pure luck there," Luongo said. "I knew the puck had squeaked through me. I wasn’t sure where it was. That was a pure coincidence. Luckily, the guy who took the rebound shot took it right off my back."

From there, Luongo was dialed in. As good as he’s ever been to start a season. His biggest save came 2:56 into the third. With the Canucks on the power play, Dan Hamhuis coughed up the puck and it led directly to a shorthanded partial breakaway for Matt Duchene. Luongo stayed with Duchene, and waited for the Colorado forward to make the first move before he closed off the five hole. He made the save look easy. The fans went bananas. See, old times.

"I feel great," Luongo said. "I’m moving really well. I’m trying to keep my body centred on every shot and not leaning away from the puck. I’m really happy with the way I’m moving in the crease and the way I’m seeing the puck.

"I have to credit him."

And by him, Luongo was talking about Francois Allaire. For the first time in his career, he spent seven weeks this offseason with the goalie coach who helped develop him as a teenager. It was an opportunity which presented itself because of the lockout and because Allaire decided to buy a place in Florida.

"Craig Anderson
illy and Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche still controlled Wednesday ’s game for stretches in the inaugural one-half. But Luongo made some good save, did n’t give up many baloney - worthy rebounds and was not outwit for a softy. Needing that goaltending, the Canucks gained assurance as the plot wore on, before blowing it receptive in the third period. 

 To start, the Canucks struggled gain traction, but an Avalanche team without some of its marquee players could n’t take advantage. 

 Luongo was lucky early on. Just 1:16 into the first, a 62 - foot slapper from Jan Hejda leak through him. The puck rested dangerously in the gloomy paint, and Luongo swing his stick through the crease. His knob, his undoing on so many goal in the past few years, knocked the puck out instead of in for once. Call it a reversal of fortune. 

 " That was pure luck there, " Luongo said. " I knew the puck had squeaked through me. I was n’t sure where it was. That was a pure coincidence. Luckily, the guy who took the rebound shooting took it right off my binding. " 

 From there, Luongo was dialed in. As good as he ’s ever been to begin a season. His biggest save came 2:56 into the third. With the Canucks on the power looseness, Dan Hamhuis coughed up the puck and it led directly to a shorthanded partial breakaway for Matt Duchene. Luongo stayed with Duchene, and waited for the Colorado ahead to make the first move before he closed off the five fix. He made the save count easy. The fans went bananas. See, previous times. 

 " I feel great, " Luongo say. " I ’m moving really well. I ’m trying to keep my consistency centred on every shot and not lean away from the puck. I ’m truly happy with the manner I ’m moving in the kris and the way I ’m seeing the puck. 

 " I receive to credit him. " 

 And by him, Luongo was talking about Francois Allaire. For the first time in his career, he spent seven weeks this offseason with the goalie coach who helped develop him as a teenager. It was an opportunity which presented itself because of the lockout and because Allaire decide to buy a place in Florida. 

 " Craig Anderson
illj and Gabriel Landeskog, uhe Avalanche still contcolled Sednesdah’s game for stretches in the furst yalf. But Luongo made sume good daves, dien’t jive up many drool-worthy rebouhfs aud was not beatek for a sofdy. Needing thad eocltending, the Canucks gained confidegce as yhf game wore on, befpwe bmowing it open in the third period.

Fo staru, the Canucks strubgled gaining traction, but an Wvalanche team witjout some od itf marquee plahers couldn’t take advahtage.

Luongo was lucky early. Jusg 1:16 inco the firsj, z 62-vmot slapper from Jan Hejda lcsked tvrough nim. The puck rcsted dabgerously in the blue paint, and Luongo fwung his scick through the creawe. His nnob, his ynduinf pn so majy joals in ths past few tears, knocked the pich out instead kf in sow once. Call it a reversal of fortune.

"Thau was pure luck there," Luongo said. "I knew the puck had squewked through me. I wasn’t sure where it was. That wav a pnrd ciikciddbcf. Luckily, the guy who took the rebound shot tjkk in right off my bagk."

From there, Luongp aax dialed in. As good ca ge’s ever been to shart a feasob. His bigdest save came 2:56 into the third. Qith the Canlcks on the power play, Dan Hamhuir cooghed ip the puck and it led birectmy to a shogthanded lxrtial breakaway fog Madt Duchene. Luongo stayed wyth Ducheie, anb waited for the Cjlorado fogward to make the first love yefora he closef off the five hole. He made the save look easi. Tve xans wenc banakas. See, old timqs.

"I feel great," Luongo said. "I’m moving really well. I’m trring to keep ki body centrev on everr shit abd not udaning away frpm the pubk. I’m eeally happy with bhe wxg I’m moving in cke crease and the wah I’i dexing eve puck.

"I hava to crdcit hkm."

And by hin, Luomgo was talking aboud Frzncois Allaire. For tme first jime in hys career, he xpent seven weeks uhis ohfseasun wiyh jhe goalie coach who helped devslop him ws w teenager. Ie waw an opportuuity which presented itself because of tie lockout and because Qllaire decided to yun a place in Floryda.

"Craig Dnderson
illy and Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche still game stretches in first half. But didn’t up many drool-worthy and was not for a softy. Needing that goaltending, Canucks gained confidence as the game wore on, before blowing it open in third period. To start, the Canucks struggled gaining traction, but an Avalanche team some its players take advantage. Luongo was lucky early. Just 1:16 into the first, a 62-foot slapper from Jan leaked through him. The puck rested dangerously in blue paint, and Luongo his stick through the crease. knob, undoing on many in past few years, the puck out instead of in for once. Call it a reversal of fortune. "That was pure there," Luongo knew the had through I wasn’t sure was. That was a pure coincidence. who took the rebound shot took it right my back." there, Luongo was dialed in. As as he’s ever been to start a season. biggest save came 2:56 into the third. With the Canucks on the power play, Dan up the puck and led directly to shorthanded breakaway Matt Luongo stayed Duchene, and waited for the Colorado forward to make the first before he closed off the five hole. He made the easy. fans went bananas. old times. "I feel Luongo "I’m moving really well. to my every and leaning away from the I’m really happy with the I’m moving in the seeing the puck. "I have to credit him." by him, Luongo was talking about Francois For the first time in his career, he spent seven weeks this with the who helped develop him as a teenager. It an opportunity which presented because of the lockout and because Allaire decided to a in Florida. Anderson
illy and Gabriel Landeskog, thE Avalanche Still ConTroLlEd WeDnesDay’s game for strETcheS in the first half. But LuonGo madE sOMe goOD sAves, dIdn’t givE Up MANy dRoOl-WorThY ReBoundS anD was not Beaten for a SofTy. needing that gOAlTending, the canUcks gained coNfiDence aS tHe gAMe worE on, BeforE blowiNG it opeN in the thiRd PEriod.

TO Start, thE cAnUcks Struggled gaining tRAcTIon, but an AvalanChe teaM wIThOUT soMe oF its marqueE pLayerS Couldn’t TAkE ADVanTAge.

Luongo was lUcky early. JuST 1:16 inTo the fIrSt, a 62-FOot slaPper fRoM jan hejda leaked ThroUgh him. The Puck reSTed dangERously iN the blUe pAinT, and lUoNgO swUnG His STiCk tHRouGh the creAsE. HIs knoB, his UNDOIng oN so Many Goals In the past few yEarS, knoCKed The puCk out InstEaD of in For oncE. Call It A reversal of fortUne.

"THat was purE luCk TheRe," luongO Said. "I kNew The Puck had SqueakeD ThrOuGH ME. I Wasn’t sure where it waS. THAT wAs a pure cOincidENcE. LUCkily, the GuY whO tooK THe rebOund SHoT took it rIght ofF My BaCk."

From tHeRe, LuonGo Was DiaLed in. aS gooD as he’s Ever been To staRT a season. His bigGEst save came 2:56 inTO tHE ThIRd. WiTh tHe Canucks on The pOWer pLay, DAN HAmhUIs couGhed uP tHE pUCk and it led directly tO a ShorthAnded Partial breakaWay for Matt dUCHene. LuonGo stAYeD With Duchene, and WaiteD for the ColORado forwArd to Make the fIrst move bEFOre he cloSed Off The FivE HOlE. He made the savE LOok eAsY. The fanS weNt bananAs. SEe, oLd tImeS.

"I Feel great," luongo saId. "i’m MoViNg rEally WEll. I’m tryInG to KeEp mY body CEntred On eveRy shOt AnD Not Leaning AWaY FRom tHe PuCk. I’m ReaLlY happY witH The Way I’m moVing in the CreASe anD tHe Way I’m seEing the puck.

"I hAvE to credit hIm."

and By him, LUONgo was taLking about Francois AllaiRE. For the FirSt timE in hIs career, hE spEnt sevEn wEEks thiS offseAson wItH thE GOalie COAcH whO hElped develOP Him As a teEnAger. it was an Opportunity which prESenTed itself becaUse Of thE LOcKouT AnD BecAuSE AlLAIre decided to buy A place in FlOrIDa.

"craig AnderSOn
illy and Gabriel Landeskog , the Aval anche  st ill  c ontr olle d Wednesday’sg amefor stretches in the f irstha l f. B u tLuong o mades om e goo dsa ves ,d id n’t g ive  up man y drool-wo rth yrebounds and wa s not beat enfor a softy.  Ne edingth atg oalte ndi ng, t he Can u cks ga ined conf id e nce as the gam e wo re o n, before blowing it open in the th ird pe ri o d. Tosta rt, the Ca nu cks s t ruggled ga i n i ngt raction, butan Avalanch e  te am wit ho uts ome of  itsma r que e players c ould n’t takeadvant a ge.

Lu o ngo was  lucky  ea rly . Ju s t1: 16in t o t h efir s t,a 62-foo tsl apper  fro m J a n He jda  lea ked t hrough him. T hepuck res ted d anger ousl yin th e blue  pain t,  and Luongo swu ng h is stickthr ou ghth e cre a se. Hi s k nob , his u ndoingo n s om a n ygoals in the pastfe w ye ars, kno cked t h epu c k out in st ead  ofi n  foronce .  C all it a  rever s al  o f fortu ne .

"Th at  wa s p ure l u ck t here,"  Luongosaid. "I knew the pu c k had squeake d  t h r ou g h me . I  wasn’t sur e wh e re i t wa s .Tha t  wasa pur ec oi n cidence. Luckily, t he  guy w ho to ok the reboun d shot too k i t rightoffm yb ack."

From th ere,Luongo was dialed i n. As  good as  he’s eve r been tosta rta s eas o n .His biggest s a v e ca me  2:56 i nto  the th ird . W ith  th eCanucks o n the po we rpl ay , D an Ha m huis cou gh edup  th e puc k  and i t led  dir ec tl y  to  a shor t ha n d ed p ar ti al b rea ka way f or M a ttDuchene . Luongosta y ed w it hDuchene , and waitedfo r the Colo ra doforwar d to makethe first move before h e  closed  of f the  fiv e hole. H e m ade th e s a ve loo k easy . The  f ans w ent b a n an as.  S ee, old ti m e s.
"I f ee l gr eat," L uongo said. "I’m m o vin g really well . I ’m t r y in g t o  k e epmy bod y centred on ever y shot and  n o tleaning aw a y f ro m the p uck. I’ m rea l ly happ y with th e way I’m  m ovin g inthe crease  and the  way I’ms eeing th e puc k.
"I ha ve  to  cred it him . "
And b y him,  L uongowas t al king abo ut Francois Allaire. Fo r thefirst  ti me in his  ca r eer , he spen t se ven weeksthi s o ffsea son withtheg oa lie coach  who helped de v el oph i mas a teenag e r .  It  wasano pportu nity  which presentedi tself becauseof t h e  lo cko u t an dbecause Allair e d ec i d ed to bu ya place inFlorida. 
" Craig  Ander son
illy and_Gabriel Landeskog,_the Avalanche still controlled_Wednesday’s game_for_stretches in_the_first half. But_Luongo made some_good saves, didn’t give_up many drool-worthy_rebounds_and was not beaten for a softy. Needing that goaltending, the Canucks gained confidence_as_the game_wore_on,_before blowing it open in_the third period.

To start, the_Canucks struggled_gaining traction, but an Avalanche team without some_of_its marquee players_couldn’t take advantage.

Luongo was lucky early. Just 1:16 into_the first, a 62-foot slapper from_Jan Hejda leaked_through_him._The puck rested dangerously_in the blue paint, and Luongo_swung his stick through the crease._His knob, his undoing on so many_goals in the past few years,_knocked the puck out instead_of in_for once. Call it a_reversal of fortune.

"That_was pure_luck there," Luongo_said. "I knew the puck had_squeaked through me._I wasn’t sure where it was._That_was a pure_coincidence._Luckily,_the guy_who took the_rebound_shot took_it_right off my back."

From there, Luongo_was_dialed in. As good as he’s ever_been to start a_season._His biggest save came_2:56 into the third. With_the Canucks on the power play,_Dan Hamhuis_coughed up_the puck and it led directly to a shorthanded partial breakaway_for Matt Duchene. Luongo stayed with_Duchene, and waited for_the Colorado_forward_to make the_first_move before_he closed off the five hole. He_made the_save look easy. The fans went_bananas. See, old times.

"I_feel_great," Luongo said. "I’m moving really_well. I’m trying to keep my_body centred on every shot_and_not_leaning away from the puck._I’m really happy with the way_I’m moving in_the crease and the way I’m seeing_the_puck.

"I have to credit him."

And by_him,_Luongo was talking about Francois Allaire._For_the_first time in his career,_he spent seven weeks this offseason_with the goalie coach who helped develop him as_a teenager. It_was an opportunity which presented_itself_because_of the lockout and because Allaire decided to buy a_place in_Florida.

"Craig Anderson