Having been cursed with the burden of human emotions, and having just seen Tim Jackman screw up his shutout, Luongo decided to leave the ice for the dressing room rather than remain for his No. 1 star of the game acknowledgement.
This is not typical Luongo behavior, as he's usually one to take a spin around the ice as cheers rain down, stop for a postgame interview and then give a stick away to a lucky fan (according to the Vancouver Province).
So Luongo didn't come out for Three Stars. Strangely, there was no rush of fans to customer service demanding refunds. Oddly, there were no calls from Canuck Nation for Luongo to be fined and suspended for failing to acknowledge this prestigious honor, so exclusive that it's only handed out 40 other times during the regular season.
But Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun seized this moment to create a little controversy, which must be hard to come by when the locals haven't lost in regulation for over a month (12-0-2). His postgame proclamation:
The bottom line is it was a mistake to snub the fans. Luongo should make sure it doesn't happen again.
Granted, Ziemer was taking up the battle cry for some fans -- let's call them the Incredibly Petty Minority in Need of a Hobby or Three, for labels' sake -- that felt it was poor sportsmanship for Luongo not to have gone through the motions a few seconds before they were off to their cars. So, naturally, coach Alain Vigneault and Roberto Luongo had to address this raging controversy before fans began grabbing torches and heading to the team offices.
"I'm assuming people come to the game to watch the game not the guys going out for the stars after," Vigneault said. "I mean, I know it's part of their responsibility but I can sort of understand what he was going through."
Luongo, who took a day off to prepare for his next start Saturday against Detroit, isn't surprised he's the centre of the topic du jour, yet again.
"It's always something," he said, with a laugh. "I care. I guess sometimes I care too much.
He added: "I don't know if it's a bid deal or not. But like I said, I was a bit upset with myself to lose a shutout like that. I'm a competitor. I don't know what to tell you. ... I'll give away two sticks next game."
Well-played.
Perhaps Luongo can cut a deal with the vocal minority: He'll promise to skate out for the first star for the rest of the season if they don't treat a momentary emotional misjudgment like he overslept for a visit to a children's hospital.
Because it's not like this is a habit for Luongo. Or something that should require more than a shrug of the shoulders from fans and media.
Meanwhile, we look forward to future controversies as the Canucks make their way to the President's Trophy. Like Ryan Kesler taking a penny but failing to leave a penny at a local convenience store. Or Daniel Sedin refusing to hold an elevator. Or Dan Hamhuis taking more than one free sample at an ice cream shop. Prepare those apologies, gentlemen!
Jennifer Love Hewitt Tina Fey Gina Philips Jamie Gunns Ananda Lewis
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