| | ST. LOUIS -- Pierre Turgeon went into playoff mode last
spring, and his game is still there.
|  | | Pierre Turgeon went over 1,000 career points this season. |
Turgeon's 15-game scoring streak, tied with Pittsburgh's Jaromir
Jagr for longest in the NHL this season, ended in the St. Louis
Blues' 2-2 tie with the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday night. He had two
shots on goal and a plus-1 rating.
"He's been playing phenomenal for us," defenseman Jeff Finley
said. "I guess he'll have to start another one."
The Kings didn't doubt it.
"The best thing about his game is that he's adept at finding
the open man or scoring if he's left open," Kings coach Andy
Murray said. "He really makes their team go."
Turgeon is among the league leaders with 48 points, on 17 goals
and 31 assists. It's a continuation of his postseason performance
last year, when he transformed himself from a complementary player
to a team leader.
Among his accomplishments were two overtime goals, including the
winner in Game 7 to cap the Blues' comeback from a 3-1 series
deficit in their first-round series against the Phoenix Coyotes. He
also scored in overtime against the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the
second round, and led the team with four goals and 13 points in the
playoffs.
That's a big step up from his first two playoffs with the Blues,
when he totaled five goals and 10 points, and it earned him a new
two-year contract. He arrived in training camp with intensity
intact, scoring three goals in the first-day intersquad scrimmage.
What's gotten into him?
"Who knows with athletes?" general manager Larry Pleau said.
"I think the biggest thing is he expects it from himself, he puts
pressure on himself to become a better player. He's been a catalyst
and he's taken his game to another level."
Turgeon's secret: keeping things simple.
"What I try to do is take it shift by shift and win the battles
in the corners, and try to come out with the puck," Turgeon said.
"That's all I'm really focusing on."
He didn't allow the end of the run to affect him too much.
"Always, you're a little bit disappointed," Turgeon said.
"When it goes on you just ride it as long as you can, and there it
is."
Turgeon also says his output has a lot to do with the talent
surrounding him. The Blues are 23-11-6 for third overall in the
NHL.
"I think it's the best team I've played with," Turgeon said.
"And obviously when you win, it's always easier personally for
everyone. You ride the wave and you don't think about what you're
going to do, you just react." | |
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Pierre Turgeon scores his 17th goal.
avi: 531 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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