Duffus prepared to carry Thunder

      The battered, bloodied and beaten Thunder is wobbling into the playoffs. Las Vegas has almost as many injured players as healthy ones.
      But one healthy player is goaltender Parris Duffus, probably the most important man on the team.
      If Duffus feels the pressure heading into the playoffs, it doesn't show. He will start as Las Vegas concludes its regular season with home games against the Phoenix Roadrunners at the Thomas & Mack Center today at 2:05 p.m. and Monday night at 7:05. He said he is excited about the playoffs.
      "It's been a tough year because of all the injuries, and I think everybody is just anxious to get into the playoffs and get after it," said Duffus, who has established franchise records this season for games (57), minutes (3,207), losses (19), shots faced (1,680) and saves (1,508). He has tied club records for shutouts in a season (three) and goals allowed (172).
      Duffus has had an inconsistent second half after a brilliant first half, though it has not been all his fault. The Thunder has had a shaky lineup on many nights because of its many injuries. Often the lineup has included a half-dozen or so players who belonged in lower leagues.
      However, Duffus has also allowed some goals that he probably should have stopped -- saves he made in the first half. But Thunder assistant coach Clint Malarchuk, a former NHL goaltender, said Duffus has risen to the occasion.
      He cited a 7-1 victory in San Antonio on March 30, when the Thunder had just three healthy defensemen.
      "Sure, that game looks like we blew them out," Malarchuk said. "We capitalized on all of our chances. But without Parris, that game would probably have been 8-7. He was really great that day. That's the kind of play he can give you. You're never going to go a full season without having some lulls, but when we've needed Parris, he's been there."
      If Las Vegas is going to make a run in the playoffs, which will likely begin Friday in Utah, San Antonio or Houston, it will need a big effort from Duffus. The defense figured to be a strength, but many who were expected to contribute heavily in the playoffs are out for the postseason or at least will miss the early rounds.
      Captain Chris Dahlquist, arguably the best player in the league the first six weeks, injured his shoulder in November and hasn't played since. Brent Bilodeau is out for the season with a knee injury, and Sergei Yerkovich will miss at least the first round with a knee injury. The status of Kerry Huffman, who has a bad knee, will be day-to-day throughout the playoffs.
      Ruslan Salei has a dislocated shoulder and has missed eight games, though he is expected to return Monday.
      That means there will be a greater burden than normal on Duffus, an affable guy who said that's fine with him.
      "You always want to be in a position where you get to play a key role," said Duffus, who brings a 3.27 goals-against average and .898 save percentage into today's game. "I feel I'm where I want to be. When playoffs start is when it really counts, and that's when you want to be on top of it, and I feel like I'll be able to step my game up."