Roberto Luongo passes Terry Sawchuk on all-time wins list

Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo was perfect in earning his 448th NHL win, surpassing Terry Sawchuk on the all-time leaders in wins list.

Roberto Luongo passed Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk with his 448th career NHL victory Monday, placing him alone in fifth on the all-time wins list for goaltenders.

Luongo, 37, made 28 saves against the New Jersey Devils in a 3-0 victory. It was also his 73rd shutout and first of the 2016-17 season.

Over 17 seasons, the Montreal native has hit the 20-win plateau 11 times and has reached 30 wins eight times. His best season was with the Vancouver Canucks in 2006-07 when he won 47 games.

Luongo won his first NHL game in the 1999-2000 season with the New York Islanders, who selected him fourth overall in 1997. In that rookie season, the goaltender split the crease with Kevin Weekes, Felix Potvin, Steve Valiquette, and Wade Flaherty. His first NHL game (and win) came on Nov. 28, 1999 against the Boston Bruins when he made 43 saves, giving up a lone goal against Anson Carter.

The Panthers goalie has 252 wins with the Canucks, 189 with Florida, and seven with the Islanders.

He reached the 448 mark in 18 fewer games than Sawchuk, who played 21 seasons from 1950 to 1970.

Sawchuk, a native of Winnipeg, played for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers.

 

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