With the Dallas Stars' 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday,
former Michigan goalie Marty Turco ends his first season as the #1
goalie of an NHL team with the modern (post WW-II) NHL record for Goals
Against Average, 1.72.   That bettered the former GAA record of 1.77 set
by Tony Esposito 31 years ago.  Turco's .932 save percentage is the
second-best since the stat was initiated in 1976.

Turco played eight more than the 48 games of Esposito's record season.
Ironically, Esposito's also set an NHL record in his initial season as a
first-string goalie (two years earlier) with 15 shutouts in 65 games.
Sunday's win over the Predators was Turco's seventh shutout of the
season.

There are other similarities between Turco and Esposito.

Each is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Each went to high school, . . . AND Turco's dad attended high school
with Esposito.

Each held off Boston College while his teammates scored three goals to
win an NCAA Championship for his Michigan college, albeit colleges from
different peninsulas.  Esposito's Michigan Tech Huskies topped Boston
College (3-0) in 1965.  Turco's Wolverines topped Boston College (3-2)
in 1998 and Colorado College in 1996.

Esposito was awarded three Vezina Trophies.  Can Turco not be in line
for his first?

The DFW TV stations are all about Turco tonight.

Bob Griebel