The NHL's active leaders in wins among goalies, Luongo is 5-4-0 this season and currently sits in fourth place on the all-time list with 476, while Lundqvist is 9-8-3 and ranks seventh with 440.
"Both these guys have been in the league a long time," Panthers winger Troy Brouwer said of the elite goaltending showdown. It's always fun to have little duels like this. I know the tenders always get up for it as well."
With Luongo behind them, the Panthers (11-11-5) will look to finish off their homestand on a high note after going 3-2-2 thus far. They have either held the lead or been tied in the third period during each of those games, including their 5-2 loss to Colorado on Thursday night.
As it stands now, Florida is five points out of a playoff spot with one game in hand on Boston.
"We need to treat this as a game that we have to win," said Brouwer, who has six goals this season. "We don't have the record that we probably wanted or maybe even deserved in this homestand. We've got to make sure that we clean up the last couple points before we go on the road."
Nick Bjugstad will not dress for the Panthers against the Rangers after missing today's morning skate with what is being described as an upper-body injury. Panthers coach Bob Boughner said the injury is unrelated to high hit the forward took from Boston's Connor Clifton on Tuesday.
"He's day-to-day, banged up a little bit," Boughner said. "We'll give him a couple days here and see where he's at."
In Bjugstad's absence, Denis Malgin will slide back into the lineup for the first time since Nov. 23. After missing some time with an upper-body injury, the 21-year-old will center the team's third line in his return. In 15 games this season, he's registered one goal and four assists.
"It's a guy that's played the center position for us a little bit anyways," Boughner said. "That's what we're looking for, to help the middle ice… it's a chance for Denis to get back in the lineup, and it's an opportunity, again, for him to hopefully help the team."
Lundqvist will be well-rested for tonight's game, as the Rangers (13-12-3) have not played since a 4-3 shootout loss to Winnipeg on Dec. 2. New York is 2-0-0 against Florida this season -- winning by a combined score of 9-4 -- but enters Saturday having lost five of its last six games.
Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers in points (25), while Chris Kreider ranks first in goals (14).
"They have some different line combinations since last time we played them," Boughner said. "Obviously Kreider and Zibanejad have put some points on the board against us, so we're going to have to focus on those guys. But, yeah, a team that we're familiar with. Its more about how we're going to start, how we're going to play."
