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Thursday, October 5, 2000
Kidd gets goalie nod over promising Luongo
Associated Press
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SUNRISE, Fla. -- Trevor Kidd will begin the season as the
Florida Panthers' starting goalie, holding off a challenge from
promising newcomer Roberto Luongo.
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Kidd will start Friday's opener against the Vancouver Canucks,
even though Luongo outplayed him during the exhibition season,
coach Terry Murray said Thursday.
"If you look just at the numbers in training camp, you
hesitate," Murray said. "But the No. 1 coming in was Trevor Kidd,
and it was clear-cut for me because of the veteran."
Luongo, the first goalie drafted in 1997, went 3-0-1 in the
preseason, allowing three goals in four games, including two
shutouts. Kidd went 1-2-0 and allowed 11 goals in five games.
Luongo had no complaints about Kidd starting the opener.
"He was here last year," Luongo said. "He's the veteran guy.
If I was the coach, I would have done the same thing."
Luongo, 21, played in 24 games with the New York Islanders last
season, and was traded to Florida in June.
Kidd, 28, is an eight-year veteran who started for Florida a
year ago. He ranked among the league's top goalies before hurting
his shoulder Dec. 13. He returned in February and struggled the
rest of the way.
"I feel real happy about getting ready to start the season,"
Kidd said.
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