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Turco reflects on his time away from the NHL

Marty Turco

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marty Turco (30) leaves the ice after losing the shoot-out in the NHL hockey game to his former team the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. The Stars won 4-3. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

AP

Marty Turco won’t lie – there were times when not being able to find a job in the NHL was “a real kick in the pants.”

We assume he meant a kick in the front part of the pants, not the motivational kind of kick in the pants.

No disrespect to EC Red Bull Salzburg, with whom the veteran goalie played 10 games before signing with the Boston Bruins on Monday. But Austria isn’t the best league in the world.

“Part of the reason why I feel like I’ve had success, or even made the NHL for that matter, is the expectations I have, where you expect to be,” Turco, 36, said today. “So when you know you have better and you disappoint in previous seasons, not to be in the [NHL] or have belief from others can be demeaning.”

The Bruins will need the three-time All-Star to be sharp. Tuukka Rask is out until the playoffs, and starter Tim Thomas can’t be expected to play every game down the stretch.

When exactly Turco will see action depends on how long he needs to get ready.

“If he’s ready to go soon we’ll see him soon, but if he needs a little time we’ll give him some time,” Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters. “At this point I’ll have to play it by ear.”

The B’s have back-to-back games this weekend -- Saturday they host Washington, the next day they’re in Pittsburgh.

PS -- If Sidney Crosby plays Sunday for the Penguins, Julien should definitely throw Turco out there. (“Good luck!”)