Dallas in Mourning

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2007 11:57 AM PDT Comment 11 comments

Each of the Stars' players skating slowly over to Turco as he stood dejectedly in front of the net when it was over. Affectionately, virtually every one of his teammates reached out, put a gloved hand on his helmet, and touched their forehead to his, standing like that for several seconds.

As if that wasn't already enough to put a lump in the throat, several of the Canucks embraced Turco as the two teams met in that most sportsmanlike of hockey traditions, the post-series handshake line.

Finally, there was only Turco and his Vancouver counterpart, Roberto Luongo, standing together at center ice. Luongo reached out and pulled Turco close with a hug and sold out GM Place roared its approval.

They were the indisputable heroes of their series. Neither deserved to lose. That it will be Turco going home does not change the fact that he rescued his reputation and perhaps his career with his performance in this playoff series. No longer do the Stars have to wonder if Marty Turco is good enough to take them deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs. He's not the problem.

No he definitely isn't. Good on Turco for proving himself in this series.
The Telegram mentioned that the Stars ran out of gas. I disagree. They ran out of momentum. That is a solid testament to just how well the Canucks can play as a team and shut the other guys down.
To give Turco a little more respect, here are the final numbers between him and Luongo.

Goals allowed: Luongo 12 Turco 11
Goals against average: Turco 1.30 Luongo 1.42
Shutouts: Turco 3 Luongo 0
Save percentage: Turco .952 Luongo .950

The demons have been exorcised.

Check out this footage inside GM Place when the Canucks scored the 2 empty net goals. Gad, it almost gives me the chills watching it.

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it is almost too bad that turco had to lose - he played so well, i mean 3 shutouts in the playoffs, i think thats pretty impressive ! I had a few lumps in my throat when luongo and turco met at center ice - or maybe that was me choking on my coke, I"mnot sure :)

either way, we won, ( sorry turco ) and on to meet the ducks !

by Jenny on Apr 24, 2007 12:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that sounds so sweet! Got any links to video of that?

by Joi on Apr 24, 2007 1:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well I found 1 post game clip on YouTube, it shows a fair bit, but not the players hugging Turco. There is a shot of the Turco-Luongod engagement though.
It's
HERE

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2007 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm trying to wrap my head around a .952 save percentage in the playoffs. That's unbelievable.

Somebody had to lose, and it's a shame Turco had to be the one. But if you're going to be beaten by anyone in the end, at least it was by Luongo, who was almost as amazing.

They're both heroes as far as I'm concerned.

by Dear Lord Stanley on Apr 24, 2007 2:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I like how Luongo curbed the attention and focus away from himself and Turco post game and gave kudos to the team. The teams played fucking great in front of their goalies in that series. Stifling defence for the most part.

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2007 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats....it was a great series, the way they should be played. Now the Ducks and their impressive D

by HugoNav on Apr 24, 2007 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What a fantastic series, easily the best of the first round. Game 7 was fantastic, and Turco and Luongo were both brilliant.

Just a wonderful series to watch.

by Jibblescribbits on Apr 24, 2007 4:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I love how the guy said "fuck yeah!" about forty times while trying to hold his camera steady.

hehehe, that's wicked.

by Temujin on Apr 24, 2007 5:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That and he got 2 quick empty-netters all in the same clip!!!

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2007 6:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ya Jenny, I agree, it's tough seeing guys like Turco and Modano lose, esp. when they left it all on the ice. Then I give my head a shake and remind myself of the millions of dollars they get paid to PLAY the most awesome sport, heh.

However, I am not sorry to see Nagy go. Little weasel ran Morrison from behind, slew-footed Salo, and crashed Luongo countless times in the series. He perpetuates the stereotype of gutless European hockey poser, heh.
S-A-Y-O-N-A-R-A!

by Rogene Talento on Apr 24, 2007 8:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

True! Nagy was a bonafide piece of shit! I forgot about the boarding and slew foot jobs by Ladislav. HE also clipped Luongo in the cabbage that one game. What a dink.
He's a dirtier version of Burrows, but with better hands! :)

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2007 10:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs