Monday, March 27, 2000
Turco, K-Wings cool off 'Clones
BY MARK SCHMETZER
Enquirer contributor
Cyclones rookie goaltender Randy Petruk hadn't started a home game for anybody in more than four months. On the other hand, Michigan's Marty Turco is at home in any goal lately.
Petruk, making his first home start for either the Cyclones or their Florida minor-league affiliate since Nov. 16, allowed a fluke goal just nine seconds into the game. That was all the K-Wings and Turco needed as he turned aside 33 Cincinnati shots to post his third consecutive shutout in a 4-0 win before 5,880 at the Firstar Center Sunday night.
Cincinnati, which had been unbeaten (9-0-3) in its last 12 games, needed a win in regulation to clinch a berth in the International Hockey League (IHL) Turner Cup playoffs. The Cyclones maintained their hold on third place in the IHL East.
“We need some practice,” Cyclones coach Ron Smith said. “We dodged a few bullets during the streak. We haven't been sharp. It catches up to you.
“When you get into a streak like that, you know something's going to happen, and Michigan's been playing well. They've only allowed five goals in thair last four games.”
Michigan defenseman Mike Martin looked like he was just trying to dump the puck in off the right glass near the top of the faceoff circle after the opening faceoff. Instead, the puck trickled past a surprised, sprawling Petruk for the only goal the K-Wings needed.
“Randy was going out to corral it off the boards,” Smith said. “He hasn't played enough here to know that you can't do that. It's crazy. Anytime you have two teams playing four games in five nights, like both teams were, the team that gets the early edge has a big advantage.”
Michigan ....... 1 2 1—4
Cincinnati ....... 0 0 0—0
First period: 1. Mic, Martin 8 (Letang, Leeb), :09.
Second period: 2. Mic, Christie 21 (Fairchild, Bullack), 1:46 (pp). 3. Fairchild 18 (Christie), 5:44.
Third period: 4. Christie 22 (Fairchild), 3:03.
Shots on goal: Mic, 14-16-17=47; Cin, 8-11-14=33. Goalies: Mic, Turco (33 saves); Cin, Petruk (43 saves). Power plays: Mic 1-5; Cin 0-4. Att: 5,880.
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