Brilliant Luongo takes Canucks to easy win

Goaltender Roberto Luongo made 19 saves, helping the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-0.

Canucks's goaltender Roberto Luongo, right, registered the 65th shutout of his NHL career [Reuters]

Goaltender Roberto Luongo has made 19 saves for the 65th shutout of his NHL career as the Vancouver Canucks blanked the Edmonton Oilers 4-0.

With his performance on Friday, Luongo moved within one shutout of tying Patrick Roy for 14th place on the NHL’s all-time list in that category.

He helped the Canucks (19-10-5) post their sixth straight win, while the Oilers (11-20-3), appearing tired and listless throughout, lost for the second time in two nights.

Vancouver moved into sole possession of sixth place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, only three points away from second and five out of first.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins tallied three first-period goals and held on to sneak by the New Jersey Devils 3-2.

The win pushed the Penguins’ home winning streak to a season-high seven games and increased their overall lead atop the Metropolitan Division standings.

The Penguins pounced on a rebound just 41 seconds into the game and forward Pascal Dupuis stuffed it past Devils goaltender Cory Schnneider.

The Florida Panthers won their second game in a row, both in shootouts, defeating the Washington Capitals 3-2 in a battle of backup goalies.

In the 12th round of the shootout, right winger Tomas Kopecky scored to give the Panthers the win.

Clemmensen, a 36-year-old career backup who entered the game with a 3.89 goals-against-average, got his first win of the season and is now 1-2-1.

Grubauer, a 22-year-old rookie from Germany who entered the game with a 1.36 goals-against-average, took his first career loss and is now 2-1.

Source: Reuters