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Dallas Stars place Tyler Seguin on IR after ‘gutless’ hit, could miss 6 weeks

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) is helped off the ice during the third period against the Florida Panthers at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Panthers 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) is helped off the ice during the third period against the Florida Panthers at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Panthers 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Stars placed All-Star forward Tyler Seguin on injured reserve after taking a low hit in Friday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Tyler Seguin was one of the few bright spots for much of the year for the Stars with the rising star leading among the league leaders in goals and points. But after taking a cheap shot from Panthers’ Dmitry Kulikov on Friday night, he could be out as long as six weeks.

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Seguin was placed on injured reserve on Saturday and head coach Lindy Ruff said his star center could miss two-four weeks, but ESPN’s Pierre LeBruin reports he may be sidelined for three-six weeks with his knee injury.

Ruff was none too pleased after the low hit in the third period from the Panthers defenseman and could be subject to a long suspension. Kulikov has been offered an in-person hearing for his hit on Seguin and could be suspended for six games of more for what Ruff called a dirty shot.

Here is how the play unfolded.

“It’s a dirty shot,” Ruff said Friday night. “You end up taking your best player out — not only out of the game, but [Kulikov has] taken him out of the lineup for a little bit. We’ll let the league deal with it.”

Seguin is third in the NHL with 59 points, four behind Chicago Blackhawks’ right wing Patrick Kane and tied for fourth in goals with 29.

The Stars have been one of the more disappointing teams in the Western Conference for the majority of the season and sit three points out of the final playoff spot in the conference with 60 points, tied with the Los Angeles Kings for 10th place.

If the Stars are to stay in the playoff race they’ll have to do so without their best player and one of the best players in the league after a dirty hit that should see Kulikov out of the Panthers lineup for at least six games.

Seguin’s teammate, Vernon Fiddler went a bit further than his head coach in his criticism of the hit on Seguin, calling it a gutless play.

“[Seguin has] released the puck, and [Kulikov] comes across and takes his knee out,” Fiddler said. “It’s a gutless play on his part, and we’ll have to deal with that at a later time.”

How long do you think Kulikov should be suspended and can Dallas hand in the playoff picture without Seguin until he can return?

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