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Roman's empire Goalie has monster first year with Blues
Posted: Wednesday April 12, 2000 01:58 AM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Roman Turek certainly doesn't seem nervous about his first playoff series as a starting goalie. Turek answered all the questions about his ability and durability in the regular season with a 1.95 goals-against average and an NHL-leading seven shutouts for the top-seeded St. Louis Blues. On the eve of the Blues' opener against the San Jose Sharks, he didn't mind addressing the doubts that returned. "I'm not thinking about it," Turek said. "I try to play the same, like the regular season. I think goaltending is very important for the playoffs, but it's the same thing for the regular season." He's not in awe of 44-goal scorer Owen Nolan or any of the other Sharks. Asked who he worries about most on the San Jose roster, he said: "Nobody." "I've said before that all players are the same for me, and all teams," Turek said. "It's no different for me if it's Nolan or Bure or somebody else. I don't care." Teammates are confident the 6-3, 190-pound Turek will be just as big a roadblock as he was in the regular season, partly because he's always been this unflappable. "A lot of goalies are very superstitious and uptight and real tense," center Craig Conroy said. "He hasn't changed from day one. If he gets scored on, big deal." Turek, 29, showed he was ready for the big games during a scoreless tie with the Detroit Red Wings last month that helped sew up first overall for the Blues. "That was as close to a playoff game as you can get, and he didn't let any goals in," defenseman Todd Reirden said. Turek is seeking his second straight Stanley Cup, although this time around the circumstances are a lot different. Last season he spent most of the playoffs on the bench as the backup to Ed Belfour on the Dallas Stars before coming to the Blues for a third-round pick just before last year's Entry Draft. He's not certain how much the Dallas experience will help him, but compared the Blues' roster favorably to the Stars' last season. "It's a very good group," Turek said. "We have these guys here on this team." The Blues scored a franchise-record 114 points and broke or tied seven team records. During the regular season, they had virtually no weaknesses. They scored 58 points on the road, finished off their opponents with a 91-47 goals advantage in the third period and were the NHL's stingiest team, allowing only 22 shots and two goals per game. They also were 4-0-1 against the Sharks in the regular season, but refuse to look ahead. To help keep them humble, the division title was their first since 1987 and they haven't made it past the second round since 1986. "Obviously, the expectations of how we play are increased," coach Joel Quenneville said. "But as the same time we're going to look at the small picture." The Blues overcame injuries to Al MacInnis and Pierre Turgeon during the regular season and the playoffs will be no different. Leading scorer Pavol Demitra (75 points) likely is out until the second round with post-concussion syndrome. The Sharks are the eighth seed in the Western Conference and finished with 87 points, 27 fewer than the Blues and only two more than Buffalo, the worst of the 16 teams to make the postseason. They know they're longshots. "They're a great defensive hockey team," forward Mike Ricci said. "They don't give up too many opportunities." The Blues outscored the Sharks 16-7 in the regular season, with San Jose's best showing a 1-1 tie Nov. 20. St. Louis' most impressive scores came on the road, with 5-2 and 4-1 victories. The Sharks believe the key is slowing down Pronger and Al MacInnis, who both log heavy ice time on defense.
"You've going to have to hit them every chance you get,"
center Vincent Damphousse said. "They're two of the most talented
players in the league."
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