A select few players might be taking this year's NHL All-Star Game more seriously.
While the league's midseason classic has historically been a time for players to take a leisurely skate around the ice and put forth a middling effort to score highlight-reel goals, this year is different.
A $1-million prize for the winner of the 3-on-3 tournament provides motivation to elevate their game, while the sense of playing among the league's elite - and John Scott - could prove to be a great slump-buster.
A number of players enter the weekend in a funk despite being impressive enough to warrant an All-Star selection in the first place.
Here are three players hoping All-Star weekend can help get them back on track:
Stars - Tyler Seguin
He remains third in league scoring with more than a point per game, but Tyler Seguin has been in some kind of funk lately.
While only Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and Seguin's teammate Jamie Benn have more than his 53 points in 50 games, the month of January has not been kind to the Dallas Stars forward.
In 11 games, Seguin has added just three points to his season totals. He's gone pointless in nine games, including his last four heading into the weekend - his longest drought of the season.
Seguin had six points in six games after recording two goals and two assists in last year's All-Star Game. Another such return from the break would be welcomed by the Stars, who have just three wins in their last 10 games.
Maple Leafs - Leo Komarov
Leo Komarov had 15 goals in 37 games when he was selected as the lone Toronto Maple Leafs representative in Nashville.
The Leafs' roster lacked worthy All-Stars and Komarov was having a career year, collecting more goals than he'd scored in his previous two NHL seasons combined.
However, since his selection, Komarov's impressive offensive display has faded. He has one goal in 11 games since the announcement and one in the last 16 games overall, with just seven points during that stretch.
He's maintained his lead in goals and points on the Maple Leafs, with 16 and 31 respectively, but after his club collected just 11 goals in its past 10 games, Toronto will hope Komarov rediscovers his scoring touch at this week's festivities.
Predators - Pekka Rinne
No single player might be feeling more pressure to perform at the All-Star Game than Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne.
After Rinne put together one of his most productive years in the league last season, 2015-16 has shaped up as a season to forget for the 33-year-old.
His .906 save percentage and his 2.47 goals-against average sit 39th and 29th respectively, and he plays for a team that gives up the second-fewest shots per game in the league.
After a rough stretch to start the new year seemed to spell panic for the Predators, Rinne has rebounded in his last three starts. He has allowed just three goals in three games while mustering a .962 save percentage.
He should have fan support on his side this weekend, and if he can put up another strong performance - facing the league's best shooters, no less - Rinne should have all the confidence in the world heading into the final playoff push.
