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Dallas Stars co-general manager Brett Hull was on Hockeycentral@Noon Thursday to discuss Mike Modano's outburst in Boston on Saturday and to quash rumours that his team's dressing room is in disarray.

The Stars were shellacked 5-1 by the Bruins on Saturday and the game got ugly as there were 146 penalty minutes assessed, including seven misconducts. Stars forwards Steve Ott and Sean Avery were singled out by Modano after the game for their antics. The pair combined for 37 penalty minutes.

"Tonight, it was idiotic and stupid," Modano told reporters Saturday. "It was one of the most embarrassing things I've seen. If that's what we're going for, then they need to find me an office job.'"

"It was dumb penalties, dumb situations; that's kind of been the trend all season," Modano said. "There's no mental toughness. We're allowing the refs to get involved in the game and (we're) spending more energy on them than the details of winning the game."

Hull told Hockeycentral@noon hosts Daren Millard and Mike Brophy that Modano's comments were made in frustration because of the team's slow start.

"I think with the way the team was playing, I think (Modano) got tired of it and didn't like what he was seeing and wanted to nip it in the bud," Hull said.

Hull also went to bat for both Ott and Avery.

"Steve Ott is Steve Ott and he's unfortunately been thrown in with Sean's predisposed reputation," Hull said. "Steve Ott's an honest guy, he's a great teammate and we really enjoy having him here in Dallas."

Of Avery Hull said: "I don't know what everyone's been hearing but he's been wonderful for us. He hasn't created any problems and I hear it all over the league that our struggles are because of Sean Avery and it's just not the truth. We've got a team that just isn't playing good hockey and we have to figure that out."

Hull said he spoke with Stars captain Brendan Morrow on Wednesday and Morrow told him Avery has fit in well in Dallas.

"I had a coffee yesterday with Brendan Morrow, our captain, and he looked me right in the eye and said (he was) absolutely stunned at how great he's really been."

Hull believes the team's slow start has been caused by problems in its own end and with turnovers, but he refused to single out veteran netminder Marty Turco for criticism.

"When you talk about the Dallas Stars, I think we talk about a team that over the last six or seven years has been in the top five defensive teams every year and when you look at our team you kind of have to shake your head and go, 'What the hell's going on in Dallas?'"