Luongo made his 1,000th appearance Thursday against the Boston Bruins, becoming the third goalie in NHL history to reach the mark. He then proceeded to stop 26 of 28 shots against in a 3-2 win, thereby keeping his team's postseason hopes alive.
Had the Bruins won, the Panthers would've been eliminated from playoff contention in light of a Philadelphia victory earlier in the night.
The win was Luongo's 471st, and two more are needed if Florida has any chance of playing more than 82 games; the Panthers are set to close the season with games against Buffalo and Boston.
With their one point against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets are heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history.
The last time the Devils reached the playoffs, Ilya Kovalchuk carried them to the Stanley Cup Final, where they were swept by the Los Angeles Kings.
It will mark the first time Taylor Hall has made the playoffs in his eight-year career. Hall has easily been the Devils' MVP, and with 39 goals and 93 points, could take home the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Entering Thursday, Luongo has amassed a 470-376-119 record across 999 games for the New York Islanders (the team that drafted him fourth overall in 1997), Vancouver Canucks, and Panthers.
"On behalf of the Florida Panthers organization I would like to congratulate Roberto on becoming only the third goaltender in NHL history to reach 1,000 games in what has been a Hockey Hall of Fame-caliber career," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said earlier in the day, according to David Satriano of NHL.com. "Throughout his career, he has proven to be a dominant player and an exemplary leader. His dedication to his family, his teammates and the game of hockey is second to none."
In a league sometime devoid of personal flair, Luongo has provided more than just a productive resume, gracing the NHL with a light-hearted, fun-loving approach that's endeared him to puck fans across the globe.
So it only seems fitting that one of the game's most popular figures sits among the greatest to ever play his position.
The veteran winger has been sidelined for all but two games this season after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and won't be available until September at the earliest, Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed Thursday.
RC announces what was long suspected and expected that Patrick Eaves (Guillain-Barre syndrome) will not return this season. "He's done." Added that any future Eaves scenario would be next training camp.
The veteran winger has been sidelined for all but two games this season after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and won't be available until September at the earliest, Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed Thursday.
RC announces what was long suspected and expected that Patrick Eaves (Guillain-Barre syndrome) will not return this season. "He's done." Added that any future Eaves scenario would be next training camp.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin will take the ice in Vancouver as active players one last time Thursday night, and what a pair of careers it has been.
The Swedish forwards, who will appear in their final home game for the Canucks against the Arizona Coyotes, have spent nearly two decades with the organization, setting numerous franchise records and cementing themselves as two of the greatest players ever to wear Vancouver uniforms.
Here are the most noteworthy numbers from their collective tenure, as shared by the NHL on Thursday:
1,463: Canucks games since the Sedins made their debuts at the start of the 2000-01 season, all of which have featured at least one of them in the lineup.
94: Percent of those games that have featured both of them.
1: Pair of teammates who have played more regular-season NHL games together than the Sedins (Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio).
36: Percent of Canucks regular-season goals in regulation or overtime since the start of 2000-01 that have involved at least one Sedin.
19.5: Percent of Canucks regular-season goals in that span on which both brothers picked up a point (743 of 3,799).
2: Teammates in history who have factored in on the same goal more times than that in NHL history (Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri with 764).
1: Pair of brothers in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top point producer in consecutive campaigns (Henrik in 2009-2010, Daniel in 2010-11).
2,107: Combined points notched by Henrik and Daniel in the regular season over 17 campaigns.
2: Players in Canucks history to rack up 1,000 career points (Henrik and Daniel).
1: Sibling duo in NHL history to register 1,000 career points apiece (the Sedins).
On Thursday, president John McDonough announced that the organization will bring back Joel Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman, and Kane feels the team will be better off for it.
"You're not going to find a better coach than Q," Kane said, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "We should all feel very fortunate that he's going to be back another year, try and play better for him next year."
Captain Jonathan Toews echoed Kane's sentiment, suggesting that next season will be up to more than just Bowman and Quenneville to get the team back on track after missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
"We’ve been through a lot, playing for Joel. Stan’s done a lot of great things for this team," Toews said. "I think everyone’s committed to fixing the issues and the problems that we faced this year, and the same goes for Joel and Stan."
This year stands to be the Blackhawks' worst finish in 10 seasons, but with the core of Toews, Kane, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, and Corey Crawford still in the fold, and the man who has coached that core returning next season, don't get used to a Blackhawks-free postseason.
Thursday night marks the beginning of the 2018 Frozen Four, with Minnesota-Duluth facing off against Ohio State in one semifinal and Michigan and Notre Dame meeting in the other.
Each school fighting for this year's NCAA title has taken a unique road to Saint Paul. The Fighting Irish were here last year, the Buckeyes haven't made a Frozen Four appearance since 1998, the Bulldogs lost the 2017 national championship to the Denver Pioneers, and the Wolverines are in their first post-Red Berenson season, with one of their brightest lights also being the youngest player in college hockey.
Before the puck drops, here are two players to watch from each team:
Ohio State Buckeyes
F Tanner Laczynski: Laczynski is proving that draft position isn't what's important, it's what you do after you're drafted that matters most. Taken in the sixth round in 2016 by the Philadelphia Flyers, he leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 46 points in 40 games. He's a great skater who has developed into a reliable two-way player, and, in addition to his offensive skill, he's difficult to knock off the puck. Though when a player will turn pro is difficult to predict, Laczynski could sign with the Flyers as soon as the end of this season.
G Sean Romeo: Romeo has been a major factor in the Buckeyes' road to the Frozen Four. Per NCAA rules, he had to sit out last season after transferring from Maine, but he came back in a big way. Appearing in 36 games this season, he finished the year with a .927 save percentage, and his 22 wins are tied for second-most in program history. His focus in net is rock-solid, and if that remains the case, the Buckeyes have a solid shot at the title.
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
F Joey Anderson: Anderson captained Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship, his second appearance at the tournament. While his production for the Bulldogs decreased slightly this season from last, he showed improvement after the WJC, proving he's one of the best players on the Bulldogs and a solid prospect for the New Jersey Devils. He's smart and hard-working, with both good finishing ability and a mature defensive game.
F Riley Tufte: The Dallas Stars prospect joined his Bulldogs teammate Anderson at the WJC, where his size and speed were on full display. Going forward, he needs to work on his offensive consistency, but he improved visibly over the course of this season. A big plus is that he's one of the few prospects with the "NHL size" scouts desire - he's 6-foot-6 and 209 pounds - who can also skate well.
Michigan Wolverines
D Quinn Hughes: A consensus top-10 pick for the 2018 draft, Hughes is the youngest player in NCAA hockey. He was third-best on the Wolverines in scoring during the regular season with 28 points in 34 games, evidence of the offensive skill set that has heightened expectations. His high-level hockey sense leads to good decision-making at both ends of the ice (most of the time), and it's for that reason you should expect him to see a lot of minutes Thursday night.
F Cooper Marody: Marody's rights, previously held by the Flyers, were recently acquired by the Edmonton Oilers. When you look at what he's accomplished this season, it's easy to see why the Oilers wanted him. This year is Marody's first full, healthy campaign with the Wolverines, and his 50 points in 39 games were good enough for sixth nationwide. While there are some concerns about his strength on the puck, he has terrific offensive potential. He's a cerebral, creative playmaker who's loads of fun to watch.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
F Jake Evans: Drafted in the seventh round in 2014 by the Canadiens, Evans put up 42 points in 38 games (up from 42 in 40 last season) for his second consecutive point-per-game season. He's a good example of what patience can do for development, using the last two years to establish who he is as a player and show why the Canadiens should sign him. In addition to his college play, which earned him a Hobey Baker nomination, the senior represented Team Canada at this year's Spengler Cup. He's a good skater and his playmaking ability is a significant asset for the Fighting Irish captain.
G Cale Morris: Morris stepped into former Fighting Irish goaltender Cal Petersen's crease with apparent ease, winning the starter's job over freshman Dylan St. Cyr and finishing the season with a .945 save percentage - the highest in the nation. The sophomore is poised in net, able to control rebounds, and plays behind a solid group of defensemen. Morris' stellar play hasn't gone unrecognized, as he was named the Big Ten tournament's Most Outstanding Player and is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, which honors the top goaltender in college hockey.
