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Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork. Leandro Barbosa Jersey .com) - Its always fun to sit down and try the latest and craziest beverages produced by one of the many microbrews across North America, but other times its best to know exactly what you are getting. In that regard, Roberto Luongo is a high-priced but well-worth bottle of vintage wine, a true go-to for enjoyment for the Florida Panthers. When the dreaded term rebuilding is whispered amongst a hockey organization, it usually means that the fans and coaching staff are in for a few years of molding new, young talent. Add in a few talented veterans down the road and, to quote Carl Weathers, baby, youve got a stew going. The Panthers have made the playoffs just once in the previous 13 seasons and finished seventh out of eight teams in the Atlantic Division a season ago. That pretty much screams early stages of a rebuild, but that didnt stop Florida from making a big move prior to last seasons trade deadline, getting Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks. Acquiring a 35-year-old big-name netminder is usually a play that is made during the latter stages of a rebuild, but the Panthers couldnt pass up the chance to bring Luongo back to Sunrise, where he spent the majority of the early stages of his career. Or maybe general manager Dale Tallon believed his club was closer to relevance than thought by the majority. After all, the Panthers sit only three points back of the Boston Bruins for the Easts second wild card spot following a big win over the Canucks on Thursday night. And yes, it is still early, but the Panthers have four games in hand on the Bruins. Luongo is a big part of Floridas success obviously, going 16-7-7 with a goals against average (2.23) and save percentage (.926) that both rank top 10 in the NHL. But even better for the Panthers growing core and first-year head coach Gerard Gallant is that Luongo is a safety net for the club, a bail-out that allows the coach and players to take some chances they may otherwise not take. If any team knows that, it is the Canucks. Luongo spent nearly eight full seasons in Vancouver and left the franchise as its all-time leader in wins (233) and shutouts (38). He made 32 saves to defeat his former team on Thursday, tying Dominik Hasek for 11th on the all-time list with 389 wins. Another sign of how special Luongo can be to a franchise: the fans cheered the opposing netminder for the entire game, from a video tribute early on to when he was named the games first start at its completion. The Canucks faithful even broke out vintage Loo chants for the game. It was nice to receive that acknowledgement, said Luongo. I played here for eight years. I gave it my heart and soul the whole time. There was some ups and downs, obviously, but at the end of the day Im glad the positive was remembered more than the negative. If this season is any indication, there are some positive days ahead for the Panthers too. Kevin Johnson Jersey . And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler. Jamal Crawford Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/ryan-anderson-suns-jersey/ . "I could have been equipment manager but nooooo" from Lisa on Ice. Season 6, Episode 8. SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Zito begged and pleaded to stay in the game, wanting this moment to last a little bit longer, and manager Bruce Bochy almost obliged the pitcher. Bochy stuck with his plan to pull Zito, who still won in what likely was his final hurrah for San Francisco, and Pablo Sandoval backed him with a two-run homer as the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Wednesday night. "I just let him know, This is my game, Im going to go out there and shut them down, I feel good," Zito said. "I was frustrated." Zitos up-and-down tenure on this side of San Francisco Bay is likely through after seven years, following seven with the Oakland Athletics on the other side of the water. Tony Abreu hit a bases-loaded triple to stake Zito to a quick 3-0 lead in the second, then added an RBI double in the sixth as last years World Series champions put themselves in position for a rare home series victory if they can win Thursday nights rubber game with the NL West champion Dodgers. Zito departed with little fanfare and nary one last standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 41,377 because he was replaced between innings. Fans cheered him after the game, and Zito stuck around to sign autographs. "Definitely theres not a lot of closure in sports," he said. He outpitched Ricky Nolasco (13-11), whose late-September struggles have the Dodgers a bit concerned with the playoffs looming. The right-hander is 0-2 over his last three outings since getting victories in four consecutive starts and seven straight decisions. "Rickys shown us he can throw the ball really well and he can make good pitches," manager Don Mattingly said. "I dont think Ricky has done anything thats going to change our mind." Zito (5-11), making his first start since Sept. 2 at San Diego, snapped a 13-start winless stretch and eight-game losing streak -- including his previous four starts -- since beating Oakland on May 30. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner across the bay with the Athletics, Zito signed a $126 million, seven-year contract before the 2007 season. "I still remember where I was when the contract was finalized and I knew it was going to be a heck of a ride, on the field and off, and its certainly been that for me," said Zito, who lost both of his parents in recent years. Left off the roster for all three post-season rounds during the clubs run to the 2010 World Series title, Zito bounced back to win Game 5 of the NLCS last fall in St. Louis while facing elimination, then Game 1 of a surprising World Series sweep of Detroit. Zito took a comebackker to the left thigh in the fifth but stayed in to finish the inning and be in line for the win. Deandre Ayton Jersey. But that was it, and catcher Buster Posey offered him a handshake in the dugout. The Giants arent expected to pick up his $18 million option for 2014, but rather pay him a $7 million buyout. Zito hasnt been told anything formally, but he is prepared to move on and, he hopes, continue pitching in 2014. Zito allowed four hits and one earned run in five innings, with a strikeout and no walks. The 35-year-old pitcher lowered his ERA while with the Giants by a point to 4.62, finishing with a seven-year record of 63-80 while facing harsh criticism for most of his largely disappointing stint. "I was little worried there for a while, I didnt think I was ever going to be able to show my face in San Francisco again," Zito said. "I was like, Oh, man, they have such great spots here and restaurants, Id love to enjoy them later in my career, later in life, but I didnt think Id be able to. I think now Ill come back and at least have people have smiles on their faces." Bochy let Zito know Tuesday he would get one final start in front of the home fans. "Its been a joy to be with Barry," Bochy said. "I couldnt be happier for him right now to win tonight." Zito surrendered consecutive singles then Matt Kemps RBI double in the fourth to prompt a mound visit from pitching coach Dave Righetti, then got through the inning still holding a lead. Kemp pulled the Dodgers within two runs with an RBI single in the eighth. Then Sergio Romo finished for his 37th save in 42 opportunities leaving a runner at second. The Giants six runs were as many as they had total over their previous 49 innings -- and Nolasco matched the six he had given up in five career starts at AT&T Park before Wednesday. Following Poseys leadoff double in the second, Nolasco plunked Hunter Pence in the left leg a day after Matt Cain hit Yasiel Puig with a pitch during Tuesdays 2-1 Dodgers win. Pablo Sandoval singled to load the bases and Abreu tripled two batters later. Sandoval hit his 14th homer in the fourth. Notes: The Giants clinched the season series with a 10-8 lead, doing so in back-to-back years for the first time since 2002-03. ... Giants 2B Marco Scutaro, last seasons NLCS MVP, will have surgery Friday to repair a tendon problem in his left pinkie and have a pin inserted to help him heal. Shut down for the season Tuesday, Scutaro batted .297 with two homers and 31 RBIs in 127 games. "I tried to do whatever I can to help the team win games," he said. 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