MASK(ED)ING AGENT

This morning the Stars awake in their own beds, and in 5th place in the chaotic West, after having just completed a busy 4 games in 6 days segment of the very home-friendly February schedule.

Great success, right?

Hold on just a minute Sparky. Let’s go a little more forensic on these last four games.

Wednesday vs Phoenix: Turco allowed just one goal but lost a goalie dual to the perfection of Ilya Bryzgalov. Second straight game he blanked Dallas – only this time the Stars didn’t garner any NHL welfare.

Friday vs Vancouver: Dynamite game. Both clubs played hard and well. The Canucks generated a multitude of good chances to score - leading goal scorer Daniel Sedin had 7 shots but Turco was again sublime. How good? Well he stopped 32 Canuck scoring bids and also helped set up Joel Lundqvist’s game winning tally in the second period. I’ve always said there is no answer for a double-threat goaltender.

Are you sensing a theme?

Saturday at Chicago: The dreaded back to backs. The Stars entered this one with a record of 3-6 in second games of these two games in two nights sets – forty minutes later it was obvious they would drop to 3-7. Turco did his best to keep the Stars in a game that on paper was a potential first round matchup. However, as has been the norm in the season series with the young, fast and talented Hawks, it was a complete and utter mismatch on the ice. Shots were 27- 12 after two periods, the score was 3-0 (which flattered the Stars), and Marty was Custer. He wasn’t asked to face any more arrows as Tippett gave him the 3rd period off along with Ott and Lehtinen who had injuries. A few others continued to take the night off with no excuse at all.

Monday at Columbus: A battle for 5th in the conference. The Stars score on their first shot then get outshot 43-21 in a game they had zero business “winning”. Turco again was resplendent. Somehow the game was tied 2-2 after two periods despite the Bluejacket’s 20- 7 second period shot advantage. Adding to their woes, Brad Richards was lost to a wrist injury in that same middle frame. Turco’s brilliance, coupled with the BJ’s unvarnished offense and 30th ranked powerplay, saw that the game would go to OT and then ultimately a Shootout where Turco stopped the first 3 breakaways he faced thus allowing James Neal’s goal at the other end to secure the extra point and the “win”.

Six days, four games, four of a possible eight points.

They started the stretch in 5th and they finished it in 5th.

Treadmill.

They were outshot 79-40 in the two road games and yet split them.

They scored 6 goals in the four games yet lost only twice.

For long stretches they sucked - yet they get to exhale this Tuesday thanks to the meritorious play of the guy who is supposed to be exhausted.

When it comes to vacuuming up slop, dirt and accidents Dyson and Hoover have nothing on Marty Turco’s goaltending right now.