SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) — In the NHL, a goalie’s success rate generally declines as he nears 40.
Roberto Luongo won 227 games during his 20s. He won 262 more games during his 30s.
And now, his 40s await.
Florida’s veteran goalie — the oldest netminder and third-oldest player to appear in the NHL this season — will celebrate his milestone 40th birthday on Thursday. He’s tentatively scheduled to start the Panthers’ season-finale on Saturday night. Then it’ll be time for Luongo to begin his rite of spring: figuring out whether to keep playing.
“I don’t really want to make any decisions over the course of a season,” said Luongo, who would be the 20th goalie to play an NHL game as a 40something.