The Dallas Stars still have one regular-season game left, but will enter the postseason as the best team in the Central Division and boasting the second-best Western Conference record.
As the playoffs approach, however, things have turned for the worse in Dallas with a few key players falling late in the season.
Dallas has dealt with injuries throughout the stretch run and will likely be missing some of their top players for, at the very least, the start of their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild.
Most damagingly in recent days, the Stars have lost top blueliner Miro Heiskanen and middle-six forward Roope Hintz, both of whom were questionable for the start of the playoffs entering the game against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
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That uncertainty, however, has now become clearer heading into Game 1 and not precisely for the better.
Head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed that Hintz will not be available for the opening games of the series. In fact, Gulutzan left the door open for an even longer recovery and an extended absence.
“Certainly, Roope won’t be in Games 1 or 2,” Gulutzan said. “We don’t know when he could come back or if he could come back. We’ll see.”
Hintz has been dealing with a lower-body injury and has played only once since the Olympic break. The forward has not resumed skating, leaving his status beyond the opening games unclear.
The 29-year-old center finished the regular season with 44 points (15 goals and 29 assists) in 53 games, providing key production in the middle of the lineup.
Dallas will rely on its depth at center to adjust in his absence, with veteran Matt Duchene currently anchoring the second line and expected to take on a larger role during the early part of the first-round series.
The Stars are set to open the first round against Minnesota with home-ice advantage this weekend.
