Al Montoya To Start Over Luongo For Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers will start Al Montoya over Roberto Luongo as the team faces off against the Washington Capitals Saturday night

The Florida Panthers sometimes do things that don’t make sense to me. Like, you know, paying an NHL-er like Dave Bolland (who recorded an impressive total of 12 points last season) $5.5 million AAV.

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According to Left Wing Lock, the franchise has confirmed that backup netminder Al Montoya will start in Saturday night’s game against the Washington Capitals. Although it is unconfirmed, it seems probable that the Metropolitan Division franchise, who are coming into the game 2-0-2, will start Braden Holtby.

Had Luongo been off his game, as so many previously elite netminders have been around the league so far this season, it would make sense for the Panthers to start their backup against a team known for… well, Alex Ovechkin.

The starting netminder for the Panthers recorded a shutout Friday night, though, against the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres only took 26 SOG, so it’s not like Bobby Lu had a Jonas Hiller-esque night of blocking fifty-plus shots by the Chicago Blackhawks- it was the Buffalo Sabres, who have yet to win against a team that’s not in the bottom six like themselves.

Montoya, who was picked up by the Panthers during free agency this July, is coming off a two-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets. He posts a career SV% of .910 over five seasons of NHL play.

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