TUESDAY'S WITH RAZOR

I guess the league’s Czar of Discipline didn’t see my reasoning on the hip-check thing. Ott is gone for two games and out about $35,000. I can think of a dozen muddier plays the “Pepper Pot” has unleashed on an opponent but, what can you do. Ott-tober has been eventful for #29. First the oblique injury cost him most of 5 games and now his hip gets him two – that’s half the month’s games spent in a suit...I wouldn’t be surprised to see Modano play vs the Leafs tomorrow. He got a full practice in today and looked great. That rib isn’t 100% but it looked like he could deal with the pain. Also, not that the all-time American born scorer needs to audition, the two men who will be in charge of the U.S. Mens Hockey Team at the upcoming Olympics will be in-house tomorrow, GM Brian Burke and Head Coach Ron Wilson – who somewhat ironically hold the same titles with “Canada’s Team” the Maple Leafs...watching Marty Turco in practice and the last few games I don’t believe he’s looked sharper since the series against the Sharks...Stars players with stock rising: Tom Wandell, Toby Petersen, Jamie Benn, Nik Grossman...How tough is Krys Barch? On Saturday night 6-3 235 pound DJ King punched him in the face with such force that he shattered his hand and dislocated his wrist. Barch was staggered by it, left for a pop-evaluation off the ice, past the tests and returned to play his regular role/TOI. King is likely gone for most of the season. Even the Blues players were shocked by his ability to take “that punch” as many of them lined up next to the Stars winger throughout the rest of the tilt and asked, “Are you sure you’re alright?’ I just wish the “game”, good teammate, Barch would limit his pugilistic partners to the 6-2 215 and under crowd...Tomorrow’s game is at 7:00 not the customary mid-week 7:30 puck drop to accommodate TSN...Having won just one of their first four home games Marc Crawford has changed up the teams morning routine on game days. They will be practicing at their fabulous facility in Frisco (strong alliteration by me) tomorrow instead of downtown at AAC. It wasn’t long ago that the Stars conducted all game day skates at their practice rink (see mid to late 1990s thru 2001). However, when they staggered a bit out of the blocks as American Airlines Center opened the switch was made to get them more comfortable with their new home surroundings and they’ve stuck to that routine ever since. Perhaps they’ll skate in Euless Friday should they lose to the Leafs...Hey, with Toronto in town I was thinking, what has become of Nathan Perrott?