MARTY....WHAT THE F#@K!?

For reasons that are beyond any ones comprehension, in the regular season Marty Turco is fully deserving of being included in an elite class of goalies that boasts Martin Brodeur, Dominik Hasek and Miikka Kiprusoff in the four-some, but come playoff time it's becoming harder and harder not to group him with the Tommy "Just Good Enough To Lose" Salos, the Chris "It's All Your Fault" Osgoods, and the Dan "Can't Get It Done" Cloutiers of the world.

Some future Hall of Fame scorers have suffered similar struggles in years past. Post season legend Mark Messier scored just 4 goals in his first 17 playoff games, then erupted for 35 over the next 52 tilts. The "Slot Machine" Phil Esposito scored 4 goals in his first 33 Stanley Cup Playoff games, then struck for 21 in the next 24. And "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe scored only a single goal in his first 15 playoff contests before sticking 8 in 11 games during the 1949 second season.

So with a 7-12 playoff record overall and a disastrous 1-6 mark against his current challenger the Avalanche, Marty has reached his crucible.

Game 3 is a must have.

It can be the turning point of his thus far pedestrian post season career, or...it can serve as a landing mat for the media dog pile that has already begun and will surely gain numbers.

Hey, What's Up With This?

Since that memorable Game 7 victory at Reunion Arena in the 2000 Western Conference Final against Colorado the Stars home record in the playoffs is 6-12 (6 wins in 18 home dates!?)

Contrast that with this more tasteful flashback: From the Game 7 loss to Edmonton in the 1997 opening round thru that afore mentioned win vs the Avalanche the Stars compiled a 25-6 record in 31 home playoff games.

And While We're At It...

Both #2 seeds in this year's opening round are trailing 2-0 to the #7 seeds.

Montreal walked into Raleigh and popped the Canes 6-1 and 6-5 in double OT. The Stars-Lanche thing I don't think warrants a rehash.

These "upsets in the making" follow what has become a right of spring. The #7 seed has knocked off the #2 seed in 11 of the past 20 series. That's right, the teams that barely got into the playoffs have a winning record against the second best teams in the conference.

Great googly moogly!

Our beloved Stars have a week and a half to avoid boosting that dumbfounding stat.