27
VANCOUVER — The Dallas Stars are in a flap over a small portion of the goaltending equipment used by Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks.
At issue are two small flaps that extend from the leg pads used by the 6-foot-3 Luongo. The flaps extend outside the allowable 11-inch width of each leg pad near the knee.
Dallas netminders Marty Turco and Mike Smith brought the issue into focus Thursday when they wore exaggerated cardboard flaps on their pads during the morning skate before the evening NHL game, with #1 written on each flap.
Luongo wears jersey No. 1 for the Canucks and has five shutouts this season, along with a goals against average of 2.04 and save percentage of .928.
Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo makes a save during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at GM Place in Vancouver Tuesday. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)
Related Articles
He was on the ice briefly in the morning to take a few shots and was observed by the Dallas netminders. The Canucks did not have a formal pre-game skate, with only a handful of players taking advantage of the extra ice time.
"We were just conducting an experiment," Turco said about the makeshift flaps on the Dallas goalies. "You're always looking to get better.
"I was really serious because I don't like the (suggested) idea of larger nets. We're looking at a few ways so we don't have to have larger nets."
Turco sat in on NHL competition committee meetings last summer as an unofficial delegate (following the resignation of New Jersey Devils netminder Martin Brodeur) when there was talk about enlarging the size of the nets in hopes of increased scoring output, or reducing the size of goalie pads.
"We need (goalie) pads that are realistic and what's safe for the game," Turco said. "The (cardboard flaps) were part comical, part serious.
"We all have (flaps). We all need (knee) protection. (Luongo's) knees are just a little bigger than others."
The 5-foot-11 Turco and Luongo waged a magnificent goaltending battle in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Turco fashioned three shutouts for Dallas before the Canucks won the seventh and deciding game 4-1.
Turco holds an impressive 13-2-1 record against the Canucks in the regular season.
While the no-nonsense Turco was all business answering questions following the morning skate, backup Smith had a wide smile on his face as he paraded around the dressing room with cardboard flaps at full extension.
"I just had these sent in from the league," joked Smith. "I don't know much about the, but I just heard they help stop the puck. I'll try them out.
"I caught a little glimpse of those (on Luongo in practice) and thought it would help my game a little bit. It was pretty good today, actually. I made a couple saves with those. I might leave them on there."
Smith praised Luongo as a goaltender, conceding Luongo might be using his imagination with his equipment. Most goalie pads have flaps that are held in place close to the leg by straps.
"You've got to cover those knees," Smith said before adding, "If you've got bad knees."
Luongo recently missed four games with a rib injury. NHL rules prohibit extra padding being added to the abdominal pads of goaltenders.
Meantime, the Canucks planned to start Luongo against Dallas in the first meeting between the playoff rivals from last spring.
"All those games were low scoring, but tight, very entertaining hockey," said Canucks associate coach Rick Bowness. "There was no open ice (and) you had to battle.
"It's far more entertaining than the scores would (suggest), with great goaltending. It should have gone to seven games because neither team dominated."
The teams combined for 25 goals over seven games, with the Canucks scoring 13 times, including five goals in the opener when Vancouver won in the fifth overtime period on a goal by Henrik Sedin.
This season the Canucks have a record of 1812-4 and are tied for first place in the Northwest Division with the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche, with the Calgary Flames one point behind.
Dallas leads the Pacific Division by two points over the San Jose Sharks with a 19-11-4 record, including a 2-1 shootout decision over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday with Turco in goal
Turco's goals-against average this season is 2.37, with a .910 save percentage.
-30-
