Thursday practice update

The lads were in Farmers Branch today and they had a spirited practice.

 

The suburban rinks are always tough on rookies, as Tom Wandell ran into the boards last season as he was trying to make the adjustment from the bigger European rinks, and Fabian Brunnstrom smacked his stick on the glass after missing a shot, and broke
the glass. Today, Jamie Benn today was sitting on the boards at the bench with his teammates watching the shootout at the end of practice, and he fell right over backward and onto the bench.

 

It was a good chuckle.

 

As for practice. Jere Lehtinen and Brad Richards received maintenance days and did not participate. Mike Modano (ribs) skated in Frisco. Steve Ott (oblique muscle) rested.

 

Modano and Ott could start practicing early next week, coach Marc Crawford said.

 

The other news is that Crawford plans to start Marty Turco Friday against Boston and Alex Auld Saturday against Chicago. He said that was the plan from the beginning, and he feels like it's a good idea to stick to the plan right now. Goalie coach Mike
Valley lives in Wisconsin and is expected to be at the morning skate Saturday in Chicago to work with Turco (just like he worked with Turco in Calgary last week).

 

Turco would then return and play Monday at home against Los Angeles.

 

_Mike Heika