Hot or not
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
Seguin continues to drive the Stars' early-season success, scoring a goal and adding three assists in the team's 6-5 win over the Hurricanes.
Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
Ward never settled in against the Stars, getting pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots in the first period.
Is Dallas the Stanley Cup favorite in the West?
@CraigCustance: The wins will never come easier for Dallas Stars goaltender Antti Niemi, who relieved Kari Lehtonen in Tuesday's wild win over the Hurricanes and got the win without facing a single shot. Niemi can thank Patrick Sharp, whose late goal ended Carolina's comeback bid. It may not always be pretty for the Stars, but it's definitely entertaining. They're threatening to run away with the best division in hockey, and their 44 points are three more than any other team in the league right now. Still, in talking to people about Dallas, I've noticed some hesitation to include them among the Western Conference royalty like the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks, perhaps because of the wide-open style the Stars play. So, I ask you: Is Dallas becoming the Western Conference's Stanley Cup favorite as the points pile up?
@Real_ESPNLeBrun: I will say this for the Stars: They play a beautiful game. I know that matters to owner Tom Gaglardi and general manager Jim Nill. The Stars aren't just winning hockey games; they're getting high marks for entertainment while doing so, something we only wish mattered for all 30 teams as defense once again takes over and a new "Dead Puck" era looks to be beginning. As for your question, I'm not yet convinced the Stars are the team to beat in the West. We all know how games are contested in the spring: low-scoring contents, and with fewer penalties called. That being said, the Stars can look to Chicago and the Tampa Bay Lightning, last year's Cup finalists, and know that offensive mentality can adapt and succeed when it matters.
@ESPN_Burnside: What's not to like about the Stars and their fire-wagon offense? And, really, the team has taken significant strides to become more complete, both in terms of the personnel Nill has assembled and the way they play under head coach Lindy Ruff. It's fair to say there was some skepticism coming into the season about whether Dallas could get its act together defensively, but the Stars are middle of the pack in goals allowed per game (T-14th, 2.64) and penalty killing (15th, 80.7 percent), which on most nights is enough to win. But to your point, Pierre, you wonder whether that will be enough in the spring -- and perhaps even as spring turns to summer. To me (Craig can already hear this coming), it's not about the structure, but rather the men in goal. Lehtonen has never risen to the occasion in the brief opportunities he's had in the playoffs (2-6, .874 save percentage). Can he now? Meh. Niemi has won a Stanley Cup, albeit with a .910 save percentage with Chicago in 2010, and was yanked at one point in his last playoff appearance during the San Jose Sharks' epic collapse against the Kings in 2014. That only hastened his exit from San Jose. Can he bring it in May or June? Again, meh. So, I get what Craig is asking and I'd love to jump on the Stars' bandwagon that represents the sheer electricity of the game when it's played at a high level, but I can't. Sorry.
@ESPNJoeyMac: I had an interesting conversation with Ruff about this topic at last June's draft in Florida. The discussion was based mainly on Seguin and his ineffective defensive play while he was with the Boston Bruins earlier in his career. Since Seguin was traded to Dallas during the summer of 2013, he's been one of the top offensive players in the league. He and Jamie Benn have been outstanding and entertaining to watch. Ruff explained the importance of allowing Seguin to play his style of game. I argued he has to be a better two-way player. No question, the Stars are entertaining to watch, but their style will not take them deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs. As you guys have mentioned, playing hockey in the spring is all about keeping the puck out of your own net first, and strong goaltending performances have been the norm for the last few Cup winners. I don't think the Stars have that.
Around the league
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With the Florida Panthers in dire financial straits, the Broward County Commission voted Tuesday to approve $86 million in public funds to the team in order for the Panthers to remain in South Florida.