NASHVILLE — His knees were sore, and his face was a few different shades of red, a complexion quirk he’s often been associated with in moments of televised elation or anger.
There was an anonymous, unremarkable chair sitting alone in the bowels of Bridgestone Arena, and as Bruce Boudreau sat down, country music star Miranda Lambert crooned just down the hallway during a soundcheck. Boudreau looked at ease and comfortable on his new seat.
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Trying to imagine this would be the scene on a beautiful mid-April day in Nashville during the opening round the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs in late October, or even on Christmas Day, would have been folly.