Luongo's only looking forward

Fifty-eight seconds into Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, Roberto Luongo ranged behind his net to track down a loose puck.

As soon as Vancouver's goaltender made that initial touch Saturday night, most of the 22,184 Hawks fans inside United Center let loose with a derisive "Loo!!!!" cheer.

That's the same syllable Luongo heard in this building last spring as he coughed up goal after goal in the Hawks' second-round-clinching victory over the Canucks.

But this isn't 2009, and Luongo's game isn't coming up as short as his UC nickname.

Luongo parried 17 first-period shots - including a few on golden scoring opportunities - to give his teammates time to get their bearings and take aim on the Hawks.

Luongo stopped 36 of 37 shots in Vancouver's convincing 5-1 Game 1 victory, which was a polar opposite of his 23-of-30 performance in the Canucks' season-ending loss to the Hawks last year.

Consider that humiliating episode erased from his mental DVR.

"That stuff's gone," Luongo said. "You can't harbor that stuff anymore. It took a while to get over, but it's a playoff series and it's nice to be playing these guys again."

Veteran Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa called it Luongo's best performance of these playoffs, while coach Alain Vigneault lamented Luongo's need to make several sweet saves early.

"They had some great scoring chances," Vigneault said. "We're going to need to do a better job defensively. They got some 'Grade A' chances and our goaltender bailed us out."

Luongo gloved a Duncan Keith slapshot to end a good flurry by the Hawks in the opening minutes. Then, seconds after Vancouver took a 1-0 lead, Luongo knocked away a Patrick Kane breakaway (though defenseman Alexander Edler was whistled for hooking on the play).

Kane's prime chance came during an eight-minute stretch when the Hawks put 11 pucks on net. Some led to nice rebound opportunities, but even Dustin Byfuglien's massive presence in front of the net didn't affect Luongo.

"I hadn't played in a week, so it was nice to get that kind of work early in the game," Luongo said. "You know, to get that comfort level back right away. After that, it felt like normal."

Skeptical Hawks and Canucks fans won't rush to canonize Luongo after Saturday night. They'll note it was just one game.

Coincidentally enough, Luongo said the same. And he said it more than once.

"We're here to win four games," Luongo said. "We're not here to win one. There's no satisfaction for me personally or for this team.

"It's all about the big prize at the end of the line - not about beating the Hawks."