Marty Turco is crushing dreams for Stars fans, fantasy teams

If Wysh will allow me my own impromptu "I hate my [expletive deleted] fantasy team", I'd like to do so by thanking Marty Turco and his abysmal start for totally derailing the "Inflatable Soulmates" in the early going. 

With a goals-against average of 4.70 and a save percentage of .814 through five games, Turco and the Dallas Stars are failing to meet their high expectations early on this season -- and leaving me toiling at the bottom of the standings.

Saturday's 5-4 loss to Colorado was the second consecutive game that Turco had allowed five goals and third time he's done so this season. Over the past two seasons, Dave Tippett has given Turco a week's vacation whenever he's struggled.  Does he plan on doing so anytime soon?  Probably not, reports The Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika:

And while coach Dave Tippett said he thought about pulling Turco in the game, he has no intentions of giving the goalie a vacation.

"There are a lot of things that go through your head, but in the end Marty is going to have to be our guy, and he's going to have to work through this." Tippett said. "We need him to be a good player for us if we're going to be a good team, and his game is not going to improve sitting on the bench."

Turco said he did not want a break and that he needed to work through his problems. "I just need to do whatever it takes to stop the puck," Turco said. "We've been down that road before. The best way I can be a leader for this team is to build a wall for them and give them confidence, whether they need it or not. That's pretty much all I have to do."

Through five games, Turco has been more of a sieve than anything resembling a wall. 

On the bright side for Dallas, they are getting contributions from two of their young stars in Fabian Brunnstrom and James Neal, who have combined for six of the Stars' 16 goals so far. 

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

Sweet 16, Elite 8 games will mean big bucks for Dallas

West-leading Stars wrap up playoff spot, beating Canucks Thursday for 6th straight victory

Could it be, as Tracey Meyers of the Star-Telegram suggests, that the upcoming three-game road trip to the New York metropolitan area is exactly what the Stars need? 

They'll return home next Saturday to take on the Washington Capitals, but four days away from home -- keeping it in their heads that they were a controversial call on Brendan Morrow's goal away from tying the game -- and being around each other could help right the ship. 

This might sound crazy, what with the incredible record he's posted in his six seasons in Dallas, but does another month of struggles put Tippett on the hot seat?

He may have led them to the Western Conference finals last year, but before that, Dallas had been ousted in the first-round three straight years. In this age of "What have you done for me lately?", could Brett Hull and Les Jackson have an itchy trigger finger despite giving Tippett an extension through 2010-11 over the summer?

Copyright PuckD - Puck Daddy
Contact Us