The last time Roberto Luongo visited the RBC Center, he was a talented if underappreciated goalie toiling away in relative obscurity for the Florida Panthers, still waiting for his first playoff appearance.

He returns today with the Vancouver Canucks as arguably the best goalie in the NHL — at the least, in the top two with the New Jersey Devils’ Martin Brodeur — part of his first trip back through the Southeast Division.

“I always enjoyed playing in those cities,” Luongo said. “They brought out the best in me.”

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This reunion with Luongo really couldn’t come at a worse time for the Hurricanes, who are missing forwards Erik Cole, Andrew Ladd and Scott Walker to injury and failed to score in the third period Friday or Saturday when a goal likely would have meant victory.

Now, they face a defensive-minded Vancouver team with Luongo in net. (The Canucks started backup Curtis Sanford against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, saving Luongo for the Hurricanes.)

Mostly with Florida, but also with the New York Islanders and last season in Vancouver, he went 9-12-4 against the Hurricanes with one shutout and a 2.59 goals-against average — ninth among all goalies ever to play more than 1,000 minutes against the Hartford/Carolina franchise.

“I’ve always thought he was one of the top two goalies in the league when it comes to stopping the puck,” Hurricanes center Matt Cullen said. “He doesn’t handle the puck like Brodeur does and he’s faced probably higher shot numbers, but in terms of stopping the puck he’s as good as there is.”

But in many ways, it’s a different Luongo back in the RBC Center, older and with the experience of not only making it to the playoffs but winning a playoff series last season in Vancouver.

“It was the best experience I’ve ever had playing hockey in my life,” Luongo said. “I don’t want to say it was something I never thought I would experience, but it was magnified to a much greater level. … It’s definitely something I’ve been missing out on the last couple years.”

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