Luongo to skip All-Star game

Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo said Wednesday he will skip the NHL All-Star game in Atlanta.

Luongo, voted in by fans as the starting goalie for the Western Conference, wants to spend time with his pregnant wife, Gina, at their offseason home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The baby is due in April.

Luongo also received permission from Vancouver to miss the team's first game after the All-Star break, Jan. 29 at home against Dallas. The Canucks then travel to Florida where Luongo will join up with the club for games Jan. 31 at Tampa Bay and Feb. 1 at Florida.

Luongo received 263,221 votes to edge Columbus' Pascal Leclaire (180,381).

The All-Star game is scheduled for Jan. 27.

Western Conference reserves, chosen by the NHL's hockey operations department along with general managers, will be announced Thursday. The rest of the Eastern Conference roster will be revealed Friday.