Bobby Lu needs a break.
After playing his third game in four nights -- Sunday’s 4-3 OT loss to the Isles -- Florida goalie Roberto Luongo minced no words about his fatigue level in advance of Wednesday’s Game 4 at Barclays.
“I need the rest,’’ the 37-year-old said, per the Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Three games in four nights with an overtime, so I’m pretty exhausted right now.”
Luongo allowed four goals on 39 shots tonight, his second consecutive heavy workload. In Friday’s Game 2 win at BB&T, the Isles put 42 shots on Luongo but the veteran ‘tender responded incredibly well, surrendering just a single goal.
But now, the fatigue factor is definitely at play.
Luongo admitted as much but, even if he didn’t, the numbers would do the talking. His save percentage for the series is now a mere .907 -- well down from the .922 he posted during the regular season -- and one has to wonder if the Isles and their coaching staff have made a concerted effort to throw more pucks on goal.
After registering just 26 shots in the series opener, New York has recorded an average of 40 in each of the last two games.
Clearly, all that rubber is affecting Luongo -- who, it should be remembered, is one of the NHL’s oldest starting netminders.
“I need a couple days to re-energize here to get ready for Wednesday,” he said.