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Luongo out tonight, so Panthers make emergency recall

Calgary Flames v Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, FL - NOVEMBER 8: Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 of the Florida Panthers skates prior to the game against the Calgary Flames at the BB&T Center on November 8, 2014 in Sunrise, Florida. The Flames defeated the Panthers 6-4. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

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Florida will be without its trusty veteran goalie tonight when it hosts Boston at BB&T.

Roberto Luongo, who was on the ice this morning, won’t dress this evening, meaning James Reimer will get the start -- and third-stringer Mike McKenna, brought up on an emergency recall earlier this morning, will serve as Reimer’s backup.

Looking at the schedule, Luongo’s “injury” (he’s listed as day-to-day) is probably designed to get him some rest. After tonight’s game, the Panthers play Detroit tomorrow and are then off through the holiday break. They won’t play again until Dec. 28, when they take on the Maple Leafs.

Luongo’s been a busy man through the first three months of the season, having played the 16th-most minutes among goalies (Carey Price is 15th, to put that in perspective).

Reimer, signed on this summer to lighten Luongo’s load, hasn’t played especially well and with Florida fighting for a playoff spot, Luongo has been relied upon more than the club probably would’ve liked.