Tyler Seguin returns to practice for Dallas, but Zach Parise and Erik Haula miss practice again for the Wild

The Wild held a long practice today at Xcel Energy Center in preparation for Thursday's series opener in Dallas.

As always, please go to www.startribune.com/wild for all of our postseason coverage, but here's my main advance on the Wild-Stars series that looks like a mismatch to at least start. Here's a look at the statistical differences.

Once again, Zach Parise and Erik Haula didn't practice, nor did Thomas Vanek, who has already been ruled out for the start of the playoffs. They're all listed as day-to-day.

Haula was around the rink this morning and coach John Torchetti said he "likes Haula's chances" to play Game 1. If he does, he'd step back into the middle of the Nino Niederreiter-Jason Pominville line.

"He was on a good roll," Pominville said of Haula. "He's an important player on our team. He's missed a couple days here. Hopefully he'll be ready to go. He's a guy we want in our lineup. He's done a lot of great things. He's had success in the playoffs before and hopefully he's ready to go."

There's definitely a chance Parise will not be in the lineup. He was not at the rink today and players seem to be expecting Parise to be out.

Parise has been dealing with an upper-body injury since January and things flared up again, I believe, when interfered with by San Jose's Logan Couture last Tuesday.

This obviously isn't an ideal way to enter the postseason, especially against a powerhouse team like the Dallas Stars.

I just got off the phone with Stars coach Lindy Ruff and the Stars, after being beat up down the stretch, are getting players back, including likely Tyler Seguin. He practiced today, although he wasn't on a regular line. The Stars have two practices left before the playoffs and, as Ruff said, getting Seguin back would be "just another dynamic player."

Remember, they enter supremely confident with nine wins in their past 11 games and a 12-3-1 record in their past 16. Ruff has loved the Stars' play away from the puck the last 10-12 games. They averaged about 2 goals against a game while still scoring their normal 3 a game.

On possibly being without Parise, Haula and Vanek, Pominville said, "They're big parts of this team. They play in a lot of key situations, PK or power play, some of them play both. They're guys going to be missed if they're out."

Added Ryan Suter, "Obviously, those are some pretty god players. Confidence, I think we have a group of guys in here that's going to go out and compete every night, no matter who is in the lineup. That's how this team is built. You don't have the superstars on the team, you have guys who are just going to go out and work hard. Yeah, it's going to hurt not having, if they're not in the lineup, not having those guys, but we've got to find a way to win and buy some time until they can get back in."

Here were the lines today:

Zucker-Koivu-Coyle
Porter-Granlund-Jones
Niederreiter-Dalpe-Pominville
Carter-Stoll-Fontaine

D pairs:

Suter-Spurgeon
Scandella-Brodin
Dumba-Folin

If Dalpe plays, Torchetti said, "It's a great opportunity if he does get in. He's got experience himself. He's not a rookie. He's got some years of experience. I like his size, I like his skating, and I like his shot. I've got all the confidence in this kid."

Here's more from Suter today:

On drawing on the last few playoff runs: "We have to draw on those experiences and have that same mindset going into this year's playoff series. It's going to be hard, these guys are good. They can score goals, they're physical. It's going to be a tough challenge but we just have to ... it's whatever team can get playing the fastest."

What excites him about playoff hockey: "You play all year to get to the playoffs. It's a fresh start for everybody. What excites me is you're playing for the ultimate prize. I've never won it and that's why I get up in the summer and work out and come here and work every day of the season to get to this moment to be able to compete for that prize."

On challenges of Benn line: "We've played them a lot. It's going to be a tough challenge, they're good players, guys that can find the back of the net, guys that can skate well, they're physical, they're all around good players."

On his season and his game entering the playoffs: "Our team should feel good, we made it to the playoffs. Yeah, the last few games weren't pretty but we're here. At the beginning of the year, if you would have asked if we could be in this situation, every one of us would have said yes. I think our minds are fresh now, being able to relax for this last week here and now just preparing for that and having some tough practices, it's good for us."

With no rush because the potential contract would start next season, Tuch will talk more with his family, advisor and professors, a source said. Tuch, who led the Eagles in scoring as a freshman, scored 18 goals and 34 points in 40 games this past season.

Also, Wild 2012 fourth-round pick Adam Gilmour, a center who had 12 goals and 14 assists in 41 games this past season, will not return to Boston College for his senior season and is expected to sign with the Wild.

UPDATE: Two-year deal is done, starts next season

Lastly, Coyotes GM Don Maloney has been fired in Arizona and coach Dave Tippett, who has two years left on his deal, will reportedly have more control in player personnel decisions.

Why is this news here in Minnesota? Tippett had an "out" in his contract that would have potentially put him in the running to be the next Wild coach. He has ties to Minnesota and particularly the Twin Cities with family here, but Tippett is no longer an option this summer.