Luongo, stellar PK fueled Panthers' record run

The Florida Panthers' point streak had to end, and it did Wednesday. Calgary Flames rookie Sam Bennett took it upon himself to ruin it, actually. But what a run it was.

Florida won 12 in a row beginning Dec. 15 and took points in 13 straight games before Wednesday night's loss. By taking 25 out of a possible 28 points, Florida vaulted to the top of the Atlantic Division. The Panthers have a six-point cushion over the Detroit Red Wings heading into Thursday's action, and they have Roberto Luongo and their penalty kill to thank.

Still got it

Luongo didn't go to Florida to retire.

The 36-year-old remains the most consistent - and one of the best - goaltenders in hockey, and aside from the blitz the Flames put on him and his teammates Wednesday, Luongo has been stellar.

He stopped 285 of 304 shots over the past 14 games, good for a .9375 save percentage. Over the record 13-game point streak, Luongo had a .948 save percentage and two shutouts. He stopped a remarkable 274 of 289 shots.

Luongo finished December with a .929 save percentage and is working at .939 in January. His .927 number on the season is his best since 2010-11, when he backstopped the Vancouver Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final.

Jaromir Jagr gets most of the press in Miami, nationwide, and in Canada, and rightfully so, but Luongo's arguably more integral to the Panthers' success. Florida may really have a fountain of youth down there.

The Kill

A team's penalty kill is only as good as its goaltender, so it comes as no surprise that the Panthers were dominant when down a man while streaking.

Florida's killed 41 of its last 47 penalties, good for an 87.2 percent success rate. And the penalty kill is a big part of the Panthers' game - they've been shorthanded 142 times, seventh-most in the league.

On the season, the Panthers' 82.4 percent success rate on the kill ranks eighth in the NHL and sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Florida scored 42 goals during its 13-game run, more than three per game. Impressive, for sure. But come playoff time, which it appears the Panthers will be taking part in, keeping the puck out of the net matters most. If the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 are any indication, Florida's in good hands.