Land of confusion: Injuries to Roberto Luongo, Al Montoya put Panthers in goaltending bind
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Roberto Luongo had already hung up his gear and changed into street clothes when he heard the news that backup Al Montoya had been hurt early in the third period of the Florida Panthers 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
With their playoff hopes on the line, the Panthers had simply run out of goaltenders.
"All of the sudden, boom, boom, you lose two goaltenders right quick," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said. "There was a lot of confusion going on."
Florida's series of unfortunate events began when Luongo took a hard shot from Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov to what looked to be his right shoulder with 4:30 left in the first period. He was attended to by trainers but managed to finish the period.
Enter backup Al Montoya, who played the entire second period in relief of Florida's ailing starter.
Montoya, however, sustained an injury of his own just 22 seconds into the third period while attempting to corral a slap shot from Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner.
Sprawling out in an attempt to make the save, Montoya injured his groin and was unable to stop Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri from potting the game-tying goal on the ensuing rebound off the boards.
That's when things got really interesting.
For roughly the next 10 minutes, the Panthers were left scrambling to find anyone who could fit into a pair of goalie pads to put between the pipes in order for play to continue.
At one point, fourth-line center Derek MacKenzie left the ice to dress as the team's emergency goalie, but he later returned in his normal gear.
Luongo, wearing street clothes, also re-appeared in the tunnel and signaled to his shoulder area as Panthers general manager Dale Tallon attempted to sort out the situation with Gallant near the bench.
With the crowd growing restless and unable to find a suitable replacement, Montoya returned to the crease and play resumed. Visibly in pain, Montoya looked helpless as Maple Leafs center Peter Holland netted what would prove to be the game-winning goal at 5:28 of the period.
Enter Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas.
Florida Panthers goalie coach Robb Tallas, left, is in the entrance and exit section of the locker room during the third period. Right, Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo talks to athletic trainer Dave Zenobi.
Tallas, who last played in the NHL on Feb. 19, 2001, as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, appeared on the bench in full gear shortly after Montoya's return to the game. Tallas, 41, had previously served as Florida's emergency goalie in 2013, when Jacob Markstrom's equipment was late on arrival.
Luckily for the Panthers, with 9:08 left in the third period, Luongo decided to take matters into his own hands and returned to the game in relief of Montoya.
Florida Panthers starting goalie Roberto Luongo (1) replaces injured goalie Al Montoya (35) during the third period.
Montoya allowed three goals on 15 shots, including one after he was injured.
"He's hurt pretty good," Gallant said of Montoya. "Lower body, but he battled and found a way to compete there for us."
According to Tallon, Florida's options in net were limited as the team conferred with the league over the legality of Tallas entering the game while attempting to clear the move with the NHL's central registry.
"We had to keep Montoya in there," Tallon said, citing issues with paperwork as the reason for Tallas' delay in arriving to the bench. "Then Louie cam back and decided he wanted to [try] and get us the win."
If Tallas hadn't been cleared to play and neither of the teams regular goaltenders were able to continue, Tallon said that the team would have considered playing with six skaters and no goalie.
In the end, though, Luongo stopped all 19 shots he faced throughout the night, but he was unable to salvage a much-needed win for the playoff-hopeful Panthers.
With both Luongo and Montoya hurting, the Panthers plan to recall at least one goaltender from their American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio for Wednesday morning's practice.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
