BOSTON — Like every player, Tyler Seguin would rather be on the ice than up in the press box come game time.
But the Bruins rookie forward took his brief stint out of the lineup in stride, as he missed two games last week before returning Thursday in Montreal. He was officially out with flu-like symptoms last Saturday against Philadelphia, but was a healthy scratch against the Sabres on Wednesday.
It wasn't so much a punishment for any lapses in his play, but more an opportunity for the 18-year-old to take a step back and get a different look at the game from up top in the press box. And Seguin appears to have taken advantage of that opportunity.
"You get to look at the game from a different perspective," said Seguin before Saturday's game against Washington at the Garden. "It's a lot different game when you're up there watching and you learn a lot of little things doing that, just little things [about] how the play is doing, [what's] right and wrong and you can add to your game to help out the team."
Seguin still skated with the team in practices and warm-ups while he was out of the lineup, staying involved and continuing his education in his first professional season.
"It wasn't really a break," said Seguin. "I still worked hard. When I got back in the lineup I wanted to do whatever it took for the team to try to get a win. It didn't work out last game, but tonight's a new night."
Seguin was quick to add that "I haven't heard word yet if I'm going tonight or not," but he is expected to be in the lineup Saturday night against Washington, skating on a line with Marc Savard and Michael Ryder.
Savard has only played seven games since returning from post-concussion syndrome earlier this month. He's still trying to regain his old form while also working to forge some chemistry with his new linemate. They showed some signs on Thursday when Savard scored his first goal of the year, with Seguin picking up an assist on the play just seconds after Savard nearly set him up for a score in front.
"It seems as more games go by, we start clicking a bit more," said Seguin. "He popped his first one the other night in Montreal, so that was nice to see. He's a great playmaker. He just wants me to get on my horse and fly so he can give a pass to somebody up the wing. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to learn from him. Last game I learned a couple things about his game and things he doesn't like, just so that I can put it into my next game."
