Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo to start against Colorado Avalanche

VANCOUVER - Roberto Luongo will start in goal tonight when the Vancouver Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche.

The move is somewhat of a surprise as Luongo started for Vancouver on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Luongo stopped 26 shots in regulation and overtime before the Canucks fell 3-2 to the Kings in a shootout.

Luongo entered the season as the backup to Cory Schneider, who won the starting job during last season's playoffs. So far, however, head coach Alain Vigneault has split the goaltending duties.

Luongo has appeared in three of Vancouver's six games, including two starts. He relieved Schneider halfway through the Canucks' lopsided season-opening loss to Anaheim, then went the distance in a shootout loss against Edmonton.

Luongo has a 0-0-2 record this season with a 2.21 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

Schneider is 2-2-0 with a 3.13 GAA, a .897 save percentage. While he has struggled at times, he did make 30 saves in a 4-0 shutout of Anaheim last Friday.