This morning's skatearound included a special Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada visitor.
Eight-year-old Gavin Prince's wish was to meet his favorite team. He also received a trip to Disney World from the Golden Knights, will sit on the bench during warm-ups tonight, and stand with the team during the national anthem.
8-year-old Gavin Prince had a wish to participate in a #VegasBorn practice @MakeAWishSNV pic.twitter.com/OVGSU7rGKl
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2017
"He had a great day. Met a lot of the players. Some of the guys gave him autographed cards," said Gerard Gallant. "Special day, special time of the year. It was great for him to be around."
As for tonight's tilt against the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, Gallant says Marc-Andre Fleury will start and the rest of the line-up should otherwise look like Sunday night's. However...
"I'm not a 100% sure," admitted Gallant. "I'm pretty sure our line-up is going to be fine.
"But that's why we brought [Tomas Hyka] up."
Just pure speculation on my part, but James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault, and David Perron had maintenance days yesterday. I wonder if a scoring winger like Hyka slides in?
Also, Pierre-à‰douard Bellemare was not around today for the skate. Neal, Marchessault, and Perron did take part.
Anyway, Gallant has received "all positive reports" from Chicago about the Czech winger. "He's playing well, scoring goals. The kid came up here during training camp and opened up a lot of eyes."
I talked to Wolves GM Wendell Young about Hyka yesterday, check it out here.
Gallant also noted that William Carrier is doing well. When we talked to Carrier yesterday, he noted that he suffered his injury against Anaheim (11/22/17). What's interesting about that is he played a couple more games. His last appearance was against the Coyotes on November 25, 2017.
Another storyline heading into tonight is Gallant facing his old team (Tampa Bay) and Steve Yzerman. Gallant and Yzerman were teammates on Detroit from 1984 to 1993.
I asked Yzerman about Gallant last month. Yesterday, I asked Gallant about the Lightning GM.
Also, today is the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of James Cameron's "Titanic." Last month, both Fleury and Deryk Engelland took in a Celine Dion concert, so it seemed like a good time to ask Fleury about his favorite Celine song. I also asked him to reflect on the aftermath of playing a former team for the first time.
***
I asked Gallant about this photo. He had good memories of the Lindell A.C., noting that Red Wings players had been going to that bar since the days of Gordie Howe. Unfortunately, the Lindell A.C. closed down in 2002.
Gerard Gallant
HockeyBuzz: When you played with Steve Yzerman, could you guess that he was going to be general manager material?
Gerard Gallant: No idea. We were having too much fun back then to worry about being a coach or a general manager.
HB: And what were your memories of playing at the Thunderdome?
GG: It was a huge building. It was different. We weren't getting a whole lot of fans.
But I think one night, we had the record of 28,000 or something like that.
But big difference, for sure.
(HockeyBuzz note: Gallant played two seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In those seasons, the Lightning played at the baseball field now known as Tropicana Field. Back then, it was called the Thunderdome.
The Thunderdome hosted 28,183 for a April 23, 1996 playoff game against the Flyers. This was the largest crowd for an NHL game until the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton.)
***
Marc-Andre Fleury
HockeyBuzz: It's been a couple of days since the Pittsburgh game. Have you had time to absorb it, what are the moments that stay with you from that night?
Marc-Andre Fleury: I think just a little bit of relief. It was a little bit of stress going into that game. Just afterwards, being able to relax about it. And being on the winning side. I was happy with that.
HB: That was also your first time facing an old team. In juniors, you were always with Cape Breton. In the minors, you were always with Wilkes-Barre. And until this season, you were always in Pittsburgh. What about the significance of that?
MAF: Yeah, that was weird. Just warm-ups, skating around, seeing them on the other side. I tried to not think too much about it when guys were coming down, just trying to react to what was happening. It wasn't always easy. But it worked out alright.
HB: I saw a picture of you and Deryk at a Celine Dion concert. What's your favorite Celine Dion song?
MAF: Oh, geez... (laughs)
HB: You can just say your wife dragged you there.
MAF: (laughs) Honestly, I wasn't always the biggest fan of her music. But I was always a big fan of her. The way she handles herself. How good of a role model she is. I got to meet her a little bit.
After seeing the show, I'm a bigger fan now, of her personality and the way she sings. Just in general, the highs and lows, how she can control her voice. It's just amazing. Just amazing.
HB: So "My Heart Will Go On"? Favorite song?
MAF: Is that from "Titanic"?
HB: Yeah.
MAF: I think that's classic. I should go with that one.
Celine Dion took some time out of her night on Saturday to meet some of her biggest fans. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/BDORM0In2p
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 19, 2017
And here's more from Gavin:
#VegasBorn have added some offense tonight with Gavin & Brendan Prince pic.twitter.com/WLW5xH5PS1
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2017
Just a locker room stall next to Fleury and Flower's stick #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/BrtQyDLFDI
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2017
Tuch asks Gavin if he had fun today @MakeAWishSNV #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/HFG9bCAiU3
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2017
Jonathan Marchessault chatting with Gavin, who was told he was going to the dentist.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) December 19, 2017
Update: Way better than the dentist. pic.twitter.com/bSBe2sSbEF
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