The Vancouver Canucks are doing a nice thing in allowing Roberto Luongo to skip the All-Star game and the Canucks first game after the break, to be with his six-month pregnant wife at their home in South Florida. The baby is due in April and the Canucks front office will allow Luongo to leave after Wednesday's game against St. Louis for a week break. The Canucks are due to play on Tuesday Jan. 29 at home against Dallas and then go to Florida where they will play on Thursday against Tampa Bay and Friday against the Panthers, leaving Luongo with a short jaunt to rejoin his teammates.
This will give the over-used Luongo a nice one week break and he should be able to return a well-rested goaltender, able to play the vast majority of the rest of the Canuck games. While Luongo fantasy owners may complain that he misses the first game after the break against Dallas, the week's rest will rejuvenate him for the remainder of the season.
The Canucks are being smart with their best player and they should be rewarded with a top notch performance over the last part of the season.