Luongo makes 35 saves, Panthers shut out Sharks

SAN JOSE --Roberto Luongo made 35 saves for his 74th NHL shutout, and the Florida Panthers defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-0 at SAP Center on Thursday.
Colton Sceviour and Nick Bjugstad scored for the Panthers (7-9-2), who have won three of their past four games.

WATCH: [All Panthers vs. Sharks highlights]
"He never ceases to amaze," Florida coach Bob Boughner said of Luongo. "Especially on the scrambles tonight, he looked so confident, and he wasn't over-moving. He was just real square every time. He gives us confidence, the way he's playing right now. We sort of play with a little bit of swagger when we see that kind of Luongo."
The Sharks had two goals overturned after challenges by Boughner, who was a San Jose assistant the previous two seasons.
Martin Jones made 26 saves for San Jose (10-7-0), which was shut out for the first time this season.
"It wasn't enough of an effort from anybody besides Jones, who made some big saves," Sharks forward Tomas Hertl said. "We have to play better. We have to start fast in our building. They have to feel the heat from us."

Sceviour gave Florida a 1-0 lead one minute into the second period with his fourth goal. He won a battle for the puck along the end boards and skated behind the net. Jones stopped his wraparound, but Sceviour pounded the rebound inside the left post.
After a turnover by Sharks defenseman Tim Heed, Bjustad took a pass from former San Jose forward Jamie McGinn and beat Jones from close range at 12:33 of the third period to make it 2-0.
Luongo made 17 saves in the third period.
"I thought the first 40 minutes was probably some of the best hockey we've played all year as far as systems wise," said Luongo, who had never shut out the Sharks. "It's not easy to come in this building. We know they like to come out hard.
"I think we did a great job in the first and in the second period as well; they didn't have much. Obviously, they're going to have a push in the third to try to tie it up, but we were able to hold the fort there, so that was nice."
Heed scored with a slap shot at 4:37 of the second period, but the goal was disallowed after Boughner challenged and video review showed the puck left the Panthers zone before Heed made contact.
"Right when Heed shot that puck, we all looked at each other and we said, 'That's got a chance to be offsides,'" Boughner said. "Then we looked down at the TVs. But ultimately, we got to rely on [Ben Cooper], our video guy, and [goaltending coach Robb Tallas] upstairs. They were all pretty confident there."

Boughner's second successful challenge came after defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored on a rebound at 5:16 of the third period. The goal was overturned after video review showed Vlasic and Joonas Donskoi pushed Luongo's pad and the puck across the goal line.
"The puck crossed the line," Vlasic said. "You're jabbing at the puck and it hits his pad. It should have been an absolute goal."
Luongo had a different take.
"The ref was telling me the puck was loose, and even though it was, their player just pitch-forked my whole leg into the net, so obviously there's no way I could make a save in that situation," he said. "So that was pretty clear-cut."

Goal of the game

Sceviour's goal one minute into the second period.

Save of the game

Luongo dove to block Timo Meier's backhand from the top of the crease with his glove at 14:26 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Bjustad's goal at 12:33 of the third period.

They said it

"The two points is the most important thing. We talked this morning about how special this place is to me and the connections that I have and how first-class this organization was taking care of me and giving me a chance. It doesn't mean any more. The two points mean the most, but coming back here and knowing their systems and knowing their team helped a little bit. We were pretty familiar with them." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner, who was an assistant with the Sharks the previous two seasons
"You score a couple of goals that get taken away just from close calls, which is going to happen. Unfortunately, two happened in the same game. You can feel the momentum as they go in the net. But, regardless, we need to be better." -- Sharks captain Joe Pavelski

Need to know

Luongo's 74 NHL shutouts are 12 more than Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers for most by an active goaltender. He is 11th in League history. … Sharks forward Jannik Hansen was a healthy scratch for the eighth time in the past 10 games. ... Panthers forward Micheal Haley, who played the previous three seasons for the Sharks, had one shot on goal and four hits in 7:01 in his return to San Jose.

What's next

Panthers: At the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Sharks: Host the Boston Bruins on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, NESN, NHL.TV)