Tuesday night we saw something in Florida during the Panthers game against the Maple Leafs that may have been the most bewildering thing to happen in the NHL this year. Seriously this might have been the craziest serious of events that we'll for some time in the NHL. First you have Roberto Luongo taking a puck high to the neck/shoulder area in the first period. Luongo would leave the game for a CT scan and apparent precautionary reasons.
Next we have Panthers backup goalie Al Montoya in the game and he gets banged up, suffering an undisclosed lower body injury. Montoya was clearly playing through much discomfort and pain because after him, there was nobody else to play between the pipes. Ultimately it got to much for Montoya and he left the game. This is where things go crazy.
The Panthers are now scrambling to find a goalie. The refs, Panthers coaches, Panthers management and players are trying to sort everything out. Luongo comes back out in street clothes talking with the trainer and GM Dale Tallon and then heads back to the locker room. Panthers coach Gerard Gallant then went down the tunnel after discussing using center Derek McKenzie in net. Eventually Montoya would go back out still in pain, but a new back up was suited up and ready just in case, Panthers goalies coach Rob Tallas.
The last time Tallas played professional hockey was 2005 in Austria, his last NHL game was in 2001.
This would be the contract:
Tallas didn't see the ice however (unfortunately) instead it would be Luongo coming back out. Yes Luongo would leave the game, appear in street clothes, go back and get back in his gear, and come back out to play. Can you tell the Panthers are fighting for the playoffs?
Through all that craziness there was a hockey game, one that the Panthers (28-23-18) would lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs (26-33-5), 3-2. This sums it all up for the Panthers:
