Luongo loses to Detroit but winning battle for Olympic job

DETROIT (Reuters) - Vancouver Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo did not get the win on Thursday but he definitely grabbed the attention of Detroit and Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock in a 3-1 loss to the Red Wings.

Luongo, making his first start since a broken rib forced him out of the Canucks line-up on October 28, made 28 saves in the defeat and the effort left a strong impression on Babcock.

Luongo is in the running to be the starting netminder for Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

"He made two unbelievable saves," Babcock told reporters.

"He's a big man. He's just got to get himself back playing and get healthy and he'll be fine. I thought he did a good job."

Luongo faced just five shots in the opening period, surrendering a power-play goal to Tomas Holmstrom, but faced a much heavier workload in the final two frames.

After Mason Raymond tied the score in the second, Henrik Zetterberg put the Wings back in front with a highlight reel goal, racing down the right wing and backhanding a shot over Luongo midway through the third.

Niklas Kronwall made it 3-1 into an empty net after the Canucks took Luongo off the ice in favor of an extra attacker.

"I felt good, I didn't get much action in the first period but once the shots got going in the second I got into a rhythm and felt pretty good the rest of the way," said Luongo.

"I'm back now, I felt like my timing was good tonight.

"For me it's a major part of my game, the reading and timing, so I'm happy with my play tonight."

Goaltending is expected to be one of Team Canada's strengths when they drop the Olympic puck in February, though none of the five men identified as contenders for three slots on the team have displayed gold medal form.

Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman is set to announce his squad on New Year's eve.

The battle for the starting job is expected to be between Luongo and New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur, who has more career wins than any other NHL netminder.

Also in the frame are Marc-Andre Fleury, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season, Carolina Hurricanes' Cam Ward and Columbus Blue Jackets' Steve Mason, last season's rookie of the year.

Both Fleury and Mason are struggling for form while Ward is out injured after suffering a deep gash on his leg.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)