Morning skate and Avery stuff

The Stars and Coyotes had an uneventful morning skate. Ilya Bryzgalov will go for the Coyotes tonight. Marty Turco will play his 24th straight for the Stars, setting the franchise record for most consecutive games started by a goalie.

There was much talk about whether or not Turco should get a day off, and he said he feels fine right now.

He didn't skate, but he participated in the morning's ``donkey ball'' game. That's the game where players (usually in teams of two) kick a soccer ball over a makeshift net and try to score in volleyball fashion.

Stars coach Dave Tippett reasoned that if Turco has the energy to play donkeyball, he's probably pretty fresh right now.

Fabian Brunnstrom (ankle) and Landon Wilson (ribs) are getting better, but are not expected to play tonight. And even though Sean Avery currently is off the Stars roster and in Hartford, the Stars say they have no plans to recall Chris Conner at this time.

As for Avery, he has a good relationship with Larry Brooks of the New York Post, so that's probably the best place to get information on Avery.

Here's today's story:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02112009/sports/rangers/hes_back_on_skates_with_pack_154545.htm

He won't play Wednesday against Manitoba and probably not Friday against Lake Erie, but he might play Saturday against Manitoba. Hmmm, wonder if Stars prospects Mark Fistric or Ray Sawada will interact with Avery?

_Mike Heika