The Stars final regular-season game against the Boston Bruins is another chance for the Boston media to flock to Tyler Seguin.
Seguin was the center of attention when the Stars made their way to Boston earlier this season, and it was more of the same this morning as he was by far the biggest draw of the morning skate.
Seguin off ice first and 20 or so reporters storm Stars locker room for interviews. He was the only guy in room. Just another game, right?
— Josh Bogorad (@JoshBogorad) January 16, 2014
Think he was overstating things? Other reporters presented visual aids that back him up.
Tyler Seguin center of attention at today’s morning skate. pic.twitter.com/ywEVjk7hTU
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) January 16, 2014
Given how much of a role Seguin played in the first meeting with his old team this season (see the picture above if you’ve forgotten) and the news the trade continues to generate, it’s not surprising he’s still the center of attention – though Rich Peverley also had a crowd at his locker this morning.
In fact, in advance of Seguin’s final regular season meeting with his old mates, there are plenty of looks at how he’s thrived in Dallas so far. A new one was posted on ESPN.com earlier today that had several nice tidbits from Seguin, Stars general manager Jim Nill and coach Lindy Ruff.
“If the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, he’d be thought of differently,” Nill said. “He took a lot of the heat. He was a guy that got knocked down for those things. For some reason, he became the poster child and I think it was unjust.”
That article is definitely worth a read, especially if you subscribe to the theory that Seguin’s issues in Boston were exacerbated by the fact he wasn’t quite the same demographic as his teammates.
In terms of the actual game that will happen tonight, it was an optional morning skate with about 15 of the skaters alongside the goalies and once-again-injured Aaron Rome, so it’s hard to get a good read on lines for tonight. Ray Whitney, who took a maintenance day yesterday, was present and accounted for so should be good to go.
The defensive pairs remained mixed at yesterday’s practice, with Sergei Gonchar paired with Kevin Connauton, Brenden Dillon with Jordie Benn and Alex Goligoski with Trevor Daley. Erik Cole remained on the top line with Seguin and Jamie Benn while Valeri Nichushkin skated with Shawn Horcoff and Rich Peverley. We’ll see if those stay together for another game.
Kari Lehtonen was the first goalie off the ice, so it looks like he will be the starter for the Stars tonight. That doesn’t come as a surprise since the Stars are desperately trying to put some positive momentum together after ending their six-game losing streak.
No real word from the Bruins morning skate yet, but captain Zdeno Chara is likely to be a happy large man as he’s been named flag-bearer for Slovakia for the Winter Olympics. Because the NHL schedule doesn’t go on hiatus until after the Opening Ceremony, he had to receive permission from the Bruins to miss a game against the Ottawa Senators. I’d say that’s a pretty excused absence.
In some sad news, Mike Heika reports that assistant coach James Patrick will not be behind the bench tonight because his father passed away last weekend. Our condolences to him and the rest of his family.