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Stars visit Canucks in Game Seven

Apr 23, 2007 - 3:56 PM Dallas at Vancouver 9:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals Series tied, 3-3

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- Marty Turco has been a major reason why the Dallas Stars still are playing this season.

The red-hot Turco leads the sixth-seeded Stars into Game Seven of their Western Conference quarterfinal matchup against the third-seeded Vancouver Canucks on Monday.

After falling into a three-games-to-one deficit in the series, the Stars have battled back behind Turco, who has posted consecutive shutouts. He has three shutouts in the series, also blanking the Canucks in Game Two.

Turco made 21 saves and Mike Modano and Jeff Halpern each scored as the Stars posted a 2-0 victory in Game Six on Saturday. The Stars had failed to force a seventh game in each of the previous 12 playoff series in which they lost three of the first four contests.

"It's Game Seven, but we've been in Game Seven for two games," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We've still got our backs against the wall. We've got to be ready to go in there and give that same effort again, that same will to win the game. That's exactly what we have to have to be successful."

In the series, Turco has a 1.20 goals-against-average and a .955 save percentage.

Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo also has been stellar. He has yet to record a shutout in the series but has a 1.47 GAA and a .950 save percentage.

It has been a real struggle for the Canucks' Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and Henrik and Daniel Sedin, who have combined for three goals and four assists in the series.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault is trying to motivate some of his best players.

"The players that have played for the Vancouver Canucks for the longest are not bringing their A game to the table," Vigneault said. "Our top players right now are being outplayed. Not just the game they are putting on the ice, but the work ethic, dedication and commitment needed, and that's not good enough."

The Canucks have gone 130 minutes, 33 seconds without a goal. They also are scoreless in their last 23 attempts on the power play and just 1-for-28 in the series with the man advantage.

The winner faces the second-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals.