I was lucky to be part of a conference call this afternoon with former NHL goalie and current NHL analyst Kevin Weekes and current Blackhawk goalie and former all star Marty Turco. While only very few questions were fielded both players spoke at some length about the final series going on right now, specifically about the goaltending. Unfortunately yours truly didn’t get selected to offer up a question (I had some killer questions lined up!) but thought I’d share some of the discussion with you guys anyway. Even without a Ranger element it makes for some interesting reading. (Please note; the responses are written up from notes and the question and answers are not necessarily in the order they were discussed.)

At first, the moderator asked both goalies to give some opinion on the first game of the finals. Here’s what they had to say, followed by some brief Q&A.

Turco: This has been my first cup final as an analyst and it’s been a lot of fun. The hockey in game one was intense and I have to admit to being surprised by the physicality. The goaltending has been great obviously. I’m interested to see what changes are made for game 2, how each team adapts.

Weekes: The series, game 1 was great. It’s two franchises that are starving for a cup win. This has been Vancouver’s best season in their anniversary season. People in Vancouver would obviously love the Cup whereas in Boston you have the drought, this being their first finals since 1990. I agree with Marty, game 1 was very physical, it featured some great 5 on 5 play and I think game 2 will be even better.

As a backup goaltender how can you assist your team in the Finals?

Turco: You have to stay ready to play and above all else be a team guy. You have to try and give your best and even in practice, by stopping shots in playing to your best you are helping players improve by making them try harder to score on you. Anytime someone gets hurt you have to be ready to help, remembering also that there is a human element to all of this, but above all as backup it all comes back to being a good teammate.

Weekes: Every player has their own path in hockey and players have had different roles throughout their careers. Using Marty as an example, he has been a backup, a number one, an all star and represented Canada on several occasions whereas I started as a backup had a chance to be a starter and ended my career backing up for 3 or 4 years. It doesn’t always matter about the position you’re in as much as always been ready, having an open mind but above all being able to bring added value to the situation. Some people try to trivialize the backup role but it is a critical role in hockey. You look at both teams in the Final, they have excellent backups. Schneider in Vancouver and Rask in Boston have both been critical to the success of their teams. Being a back up is also about doing more, about being an example.

Has this post season finally put Roberto Luongo’s critics to rest?

Turco: First of all nothing is more important than how you feel about yourself. How you handle criticism is a direct reflection of yourself. We’re all human, we have all experience failures. Luongo has been through and experienced everything. He has won at every level he has played at and he has skills better than almost everyone at the position. He cares about winning. If he doesn’t win the Cup he can still look at himself in the mirror especially as he has already achieved so much.

Weekes: You have to remember as a goalie in the NHL you are one of 60. That’s an elite group and doesn’t represent failure. People around the globe and hockey is indeed a global sport, would love to be in Luongo’s shoes. My proudest moment in my career was playing a part in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final despite the fact we (Carolina Hurricanes) lost the final.

Is the margin for error for goalies, in this Final series, especially small?

Turco: It really depends. Thomas is playing great, Luongo has been playing brilliant; they’re having fun. I’m not sure they look at it as one bad goal would change the series and feel that kind of pressure. Both of them, these goalies right now have a ton of confidence. You can, at times, see that skaters, these guys are squeezing their sticks due to the great play of these goalies.

Weekes: These two goalies are both Vezina nominees. They are two of the best goalies in the world and they both want to face shots and have a will to win the one on one challenge with the shooters. They are both hungry for success and you can see that in their play. Both goalies are in an excellent place mentally especially Tim Thomas. Luongo; he seems to be at his strongest yet, mentally. Not sure that the margin for error is a major concern right now.

It’s a shame that the call only featured a very small amount of questions as both Weekes and Turco came across as very willing and more than happy to talk at length given the opportunity. Both seemed enthusiastic to discuss any aspect of hockey and my thanks goes to both and the NHL for staging the call, even if I didn’t get to ask a question (angry face!)

 

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