Duffus, Thunder not playing best

Tim Graham

Monday, April 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

It's not what a team wants to do only four games before the postseason. Nevertheless, the Las Vegas Thunder was shuffling goaltenders in Chicago this weekend.

Usual starter Parris Duffus was yanked from Friday's game and watched from the bench Saturday as Andre Racicot stood between the pipes.

"It's always a concern (to be taken out), but it was just one game, not a big deal," Duffus said. "I'm going to be back in there, and I'm going to do well."

Since returning March 21 from his last assignment with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League, Duffus is 2-4-1 with a .869 save percentage and a 4.17 goals-against average. Before leaving on that assignment, he was 24-14-5 with a .904 save percentage and a 3.05 GAA.

"I don't think I'm quite at the top of my game," Duffus said when asked to assess his performance. "I don't think I've played my best, but it's a team game. We've been short guys (on defense) and that hurts. We need to play tighter team defense."

Head coach Chris McSorley agrees Duffus' output is a direct correlation to the rest of the Thunder's.

"Parris' numbers reflect our overall team play, including his own," McSorley said. "One thing I know about Parris: If he feels he needs to be playing better, he will."

Assistant general manager and coach Clint Malarchuk, who tutors the goaltenders, isn't concerned either.

"I've seen both ends of the spectrum," said Malarchuk, a veteran of 338 NHL games. "I've seen goaltenders shaky at the end of the season, but once the puck drops for the playoffs, they get red hot.

"Yes, you want to have a guy playing at the top of his game at season's end, but with Parris getting pulled, I'd be more worried if I didn't know the person. He's a real fighter, a real competitor."

Duffus was lifted from the first period Friday after allowing three even-strength goals on eight shots. Racicot gave up two goals on 24 shots the rest of the way as the Thunder rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win, 6-5. Racicot earned the victory and McSorley's blessing for Saturday.

"As a coach, it's my responsibility to put the proper people on the ice to put us in position to win games," McSorley said, noting the move wasn't done as a wakeup call for Duffus. "Often times, changing the goalie is a motivating factor for the rest of the team, not for the goaltender."

Racicot, starting his first game since March 14 (the memorable game against Long Beach in which he was lifted for Clint Malarchuk during a shootout), lost 3-2 Saturday. He fell to 8-9-2 on the season.

Malarchuk said Racicot's start could help Duffus.

"It could help take some pressure off him. Knowing Andre can play, maybe Parris doesn't have to feel all the weight."

Added Duffus: "I seem to get the credit when we're winning, so I gotta take the credit when things don't go so well. It's a disappointment, that's for sure. But we gotta dig our heels in and work harder."

The playoff picture in the Western Conference is far from settled as eight teams jockey for the Turner Cup run. Las Vegas, 2-5-1 in its last eight games, is seventh in the conference at 38-33-7 for 83 points.

But the Thunder is within striking distance of several teams and can cover considerable ground in its remaining games.

Las Vegas faces the Utah, which is second in the Southwest Division at 88 points, Tuesday and Thursday at the Delta Center. Then it's the lowly Phoenix Roadrunners, the worst team in the International Hockey League, to close the regular season Sunday and Monday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Thunder has been ravaged with injuries as it heads into the postseason, especially on the blue line. Rookie Sergei Yerkovich will miss three to four weeks with a bum knee and Ruslan Salei is out with a shoulder injury. Kerry Huffman also is battling knee problems, but may be ready to go Tuesday.

The franchise's all-time leading goal scorer, Ken Quinney, likely will miss the first round also because of a bad knee. Forward Sasha Lakovic is listed as day-to-day with a strained lower back.