• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Goaltending takes center stage in Stars-Canucks series

Apr 17, 2007 - 2:40 PM Vancouver at Dallas 8:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals Vancouver leads series, 2-1

DALLAS (Ticker) -- After a four-overtime opener, the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars have engaged in two consecutive defensive battles in their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Vancouver took a two-games-to-one lead with a 2-1 overtime win here on Sunday, two days after the Stars had tied the series with a 2-0 victory.

The reason for the low-scoring affairs is simple - the outstanding goaltending of Dallas' Marty Turco and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo.

After recording a shutout in Game Two, Turco held the Canucks scoreless in Game Three until 5:18 into the third period when Jan Bulis backhanded a rebound into the net. It was the first goal Turco had allowed in 105 minutes and 18 seconds. Taylor Pyatt beat Turco at 7:47 of overtime.

Luongo made 29 saves in the Game Three victory. Appearing in the playoffs for the first time, Luongo has faced 133 shots in the series and allowed just seven goals. He faced 76 shots in the Game One marathon.

Stu Barnes scored his first goal of the playoffs to account for Dallas' only goal in Game Three. Barnes had two assists in Game Two.

No player in the series has more than one goal.