Stars News and Notes: Turco stays focused on job at hand
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
There's a lot of stuff swirling around Marty Turco these days, but the Stars netminder is blocking it out when he's on the ice and stopping pucks.
Turco's future with the organization has been the subject of much speculation because he is an unrestricted free agent after this season. The speculation kicked into overdrive this week when GM Joe Nieuwendyk acquired goalie Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta in a trade.
But Turco's first game after that trade was a gem. He stopped 33 of 34 shots in a 3-1 win over Calgary Thursday night to continue an impressive run he's been on this month. It's been a good month of February after some rough patches earlier in the season.
"It has been a tough year. Last year wasn't much fun either. We have a huge history and are highly accustomed to winning," Turco told reporters after Thursday's 3-1 win in Calgary. "I've been around long enough and done enough things - good and bad - to put things behind you. I know I have the most fun when we're winning and I am giving these guys a chance to win.
"My ideology of this team and what I want hasn't changed. As much as you can say it is out of my control, and it is, you can let it go when you are out there playing. But I think about it all the time. I've got three kids, two in school at home. It's on my mind, but it's not on my mind one bit when I am out there in the game. That's what matters most."
In his last five games Turco is 3-1-1 with a 1.38 goals against average and a .960 save percentage. Those seven points out of a possible ten have helped pull the Stars to within one point of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Stars coach Marc Crawford said trade rumors are a part of the business, and the speculation surrounding Turco is another challenge for a player who has a history of responding to them.
"Players have to deal with it. They've been around long enough to know that," Crawford said. "From Marty's standpoint, he's always responded well when he's been challenged. Mike Smith was here - a good, young goaltender and he played well - and Marty responded to the challenge of him.
"Alex [Auld] played well and Marty's come back and really responded well in the last two weeks. We've picked up Kari Lehtonen and all you want is for whoever you put in there to play well and give you a chance to win. That's what Marty did [Thursday night]. Full marks to him."
Confidence on the rise
After some tough times on the road over the past couple of months, the Stars have three of a possible four points in their first two games of a key three-game road trip before the Olympic break.
The 1-0-1 record in those two road games has pushed the Stars to 8-4-1 in their last 13 games overall, and has put them one point out of a playoff spot in the West.
Heading into the game of trip Saturday in Phoenix, Stars players are talking about team confidence.
"To be one point behind now is good. It's good for the confidence of the team," said Stars center Mike Ribeiro told reporters after Thursday's game in Phoenix. "Guys are playing with confidence and we are going in the right direction and we are sticking together."
Notes: Stars quiet as trade freeze comes
-
The Stars didn't make any more moves as a trade freeze went into effect at 2 pm Central Time on Friday. The freeze lasts until February 28 at 10:59 Central Time. The NHL trade deadline is March 3 at 2 pm Central Time.
-
Newly acquired goalie Kari Lehtonen joined the Stars on Friday. He's expected to take part in the morning skate, but will not play. RW Brandon Segal claimed off waivers from Los Angeles on Thursday will also be with the team and could be in the lineup Saturday.
