Turco saves game for Western Conference

By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) If not for Dany Heatley's four goals in the All-Star game Sunday, Western Conference goaltender Marty Turco would have been the MVP.

Turco stopped seven shots in the third period, three in overtime, and was at his best in the shootout. The Dallas Stars' goalie stopped three of four shots in the decisive tiebreaker, which lifted the West to a 6-5 win over the East.

If not for Turco, a first-year starter making his first All-Star appearance, the West would have lost.

``Before the game I was a little nervous, and then sitting alone and freezing didn't help,'' said Turco, who played behind Colorado's Patrick Roy and Chicago's Jocelyn Thibault. ``Once I got out on the ice, and the fans were excited, I felt fine and I wasn't that nervous.''

Turco, in his third season with Dallas, spent last year backing up Ed Belfour. Belfour signed with Toronto in the offseason, leaving Turco to start for the Stars. He has made the most of the opportunity. After totaling 28 wins in his first two years, Turco already has 24 this season.

He also leads the league in goals against average (1.79) and is second in save percentage (.931). He has helped the Stars to 72 points, the most in the NHL, and first place in the Pacific Division.

He had a similar impact for the Western Conference on Sunday.

After allowing a goal to Olli Jokinen in the third period, Turco kept the East team almost quiet in overtime and the shootout. He stopped one-on-one scoring opportunities against Alexei Kovalev, Miroslav Satan and Jokinen.

Jokinen's shot hit the post and secured the West's victory.

``I don't like it one bit, but it worked for us tonight,'' Turco said of shootouts. ``You heard the fans. They didn't want to go home without somebody winning the game. They wanted the East to win, and that got me pumped.''

Turco had been in dozens of shootouts in the minor leagues, and few of his memories are fond. Until now.

The exciting finish even had some of his opponents watching intently.

``I've never seen any games like this,'' Eastern Conference goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin said. ``The last five minutes and overtime were unbelievable, with guys taking chances, goalies making great saves and then the shootout. I think fans definitely got their money's worth.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)