TURCO SETS THE MARK
Former Wolverine goalie sets NHL record for lowest GAA

DALLAS (AP) -- Marty Turco got the record. The Dallas Stars got the top seed.

Turco's seventh shutout of the season dropped his goals-against average to
1.72, lowest in the NHL's modern era, and Stu Barnes and Ulf Dahlen scored
power-play goals as the Stars beat the Nashville Predators 2-0 Sunday to
wrap up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Just when fans began cheering "Mar-ty" in the closing minutes, Detroit lost
in overtime to Chicago, meaning if Dallas held on it would have 111 points
-- one more than the Red Wings.

There was a standing ovation with 54.2 seconds left when the 4-3 Blackhawks
victory was posted on the scoreboard. Cheers reached a crescendo when Turco
made his 21st and final save with 7.8 seconds left.

Turco, who has lost only once in his last 21 starts, made 21 saves, few of
them very difficult, to break the GAA record set by Tony Esposito 31 years
ago. He also finished with a .932 save percentage, the second-best since
the stat started being kept for individual goalies in 1976-77.

Turco came in with a GAA of 1.75, already lower than Esposito's mark of
1.77. Rather than sit to protect the number, Turco opted to play -- and
ended up lowering it.

His feats are especially impressive because Turco is in his first season as
a No. 1 goalie, having backed up Ed Belfour the last two seasons. He made
the All-Star team in February and while at the game met Esposito, who
wished Turco well in his quest for breaking his record.

Turco and Esposito are both from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and Turco's
father went to high school with Esposito.

Although Turco missed 18 games in February and March with an ankle injury,
he still played eight more games and 423 more minutes than Esposito did in
his record season.

The victory was Dallas' 28th at home, tying Ottawa and Detroit for the most
in the NHL. The last four Stanley Cup champions have led or shared the lead
in that category.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net/