Luongo ready for showdown with Brodeur

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 | 12:27 PM ET

CBC Sports

Roberto Luongo says he's feeling better. Maybe he just can't resist a duel.

Declaring his bruised ribs "good to go," Luongo will return to the Vancouver Canucks' net Tuesday to face fellow all-world goalie Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils (10 p.m. ET).

Roberto Luongo has a sparkling 2.12 GAA this season, but hasn't played since Dec. 8.
(Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

It will be the first meeting of the puck-stopping greats since Brodeur beat out Luongo for last season's Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.

Luongo may not be in top shape for the highly-anticipated showdown after first hurting his ribs Dec. 2 in Minnesota when he was hit with a shot from Wild forward Aaron Voros. After aggravating the injury in his next two appearances, against Chicago and Pittsburgh, Luongo pulled himself from the lineup prior to his scheduled start Dec. 10 in Los Angeles.

But after missing Vancouver's last four games, Luongo, who has a sparkling 2.12 goals-against average this season, proclaimed himself fit following Monday's practice.

"I didn't have any issues when I'm on the ice so that's the main thing," he said. "I was able to get through the practice with no discomfort or pain. It's really feeing good."

Morrison out

With backup Curtis Sanford starting in place of Luongo, the Canucks (17-12-4) have gone 1-2-1 in their last four contests, including a 2-1 shootout loss Saturday in Edmonton.

Sanford played well in that game, helping keep it scoreless until the Oilers' Shawn Horcoff found the back of the net at 16:31 of the third period. The Canucks tied it with 1:22 left when Daniel Sedin's shot bounced off a body in front and went to Mattias Ohlund, who had an easy tap in to send the game to overtime.

Horcoff and Fernando Pisani later beat Sanford in the shootout to give Edmonton the win.

"They scored late and kind of put us behind the 8-ball," said Sanford, who made 25 saves Saturday to lower his GAA to 2.79 GAA in his four starts after Luongo went down. "We battled back and that's what we do. We're always in games right to the very end. It was a good point for us to get."

Along with the absence of their No. 1 goalie, the Canucks have had to press on without centre Brendan Morrison, who missed the last three games with a right wrist injury that required surgery and will keep him out up to 12 weeks. The injury ended Morrison's 542-game playing streak, which had been the longest current one in the NHL.

Morrison, who began his career with the Devils in 1997-98, is tied for third on the Canucks with eight goals and has 20 points in 30 contests this season.

Brodeur devilling foes

The Canucks, who had been on an 11-2-3 run before Luongo's injury but have been merely treading water in his absence, face a tough task against the red-hot Brodeur and the Devils.

Though New Jersey (18-12-3) — leading the Atlantic Division by four points over Philadelphia and the New York Rangers — has won just two of its last five games, the Devils enjoyed a nine-game winning streak prior to that.

New Jersey is also coming off a 4-2 win over the Flyers on Sunday, when John Madden scored two goals and Brodeur made 29 saves, including one on a penalty shot to key the victory.

"That was the turning point in the hockey game," Devils coach Brent Sutter said about Brodeur's stop on Daniel Briere. "They get the penalty shot and Marty makes a great save. It was massive."

Brodeur, who set an NHL record with 48 wins last season to best Luongo's 47 and edge him for the Vezina, is 11-1-1 with a 1.68 goals-against average and two shutouts in his last 13 starts.

He hasn't been nearly as dominant in 14 career starts against the Canucks, however, going 6-8-0 with a 2.59 GAA. Brodeur ended a personal five-game skid to Vancouver with a 3-0 win in the teams' last meeting Jan. 13, 2006.

Following this game, New Jersey goes to Edmonton for the first time in nearly six years Friday before closing the trip Sunday with its first appearance in Calgary since 2003.

The Canuks will host the Dallas Stars on Thursday before hitting the road to face the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday (CBC, 10 p.m. ET).