Roope Hintz set to miss start as Stars weigh Miro Heiskanen for Game 1
The Dallas Stars are heading into the first round with roope hintz unavailable and Miro Heiskanen still under evaluation for Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Coach Glen Gulutzan said the team expects Heiskanen to practice Friday, then make a decision on his status for the opener in Eastern Time terms at 5: 30 p. m. ET. Dallas will be without Hintz for at least Games 1 and 2 after a lower-body injury and is still managing uncertainty around Heiskanen’s return.
Heiskanen decision pushed to Friday practice
Gulutzan said Thursday that Heiskanen is expected to skate with the team Friday, but the Stars will not finalize his availability until after that session. He said the club has already prepared two plans, one for if Heiskanen is in the lineup and another for if he is not.
Heiskanen has not practiced with the team since sustaining a lower-body injury in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on April 9. He missed the final three regular-season games, and Gulutzan said the defender skated by himself before the next team check-in. The coach’s message was measured, not definitive: the team is hopeful, but not 100 percent sure.
roope hintz remains out at least through Games 1 and 2
The clearer news is roope hintz, who will not be available for the opening stretch of the series because of a lower-body injury. He has not played since March 6, and the team has already ruled him out for at least the first two playoff games against Minnesota.
That leaves Dallas facing a sharp early test without one of its top centers while waiting on another key player. The Stars finished the regular season with 112 points, good for second in the Western Conference, while Minnesota finished third with 104 points. The matchup opens a series in which lineup stability may matter almost as much as recent form.
Stars preparing for power-play adjustments
Heiskanen’s potential absence matters because of what he brings on the power play and in heavy minutes. He finished the regular season ninth among NHL defensemen with 63 points in 77 games, including 28 points on the man advantage, and averaged 25: 28 of ice time per game.
In his place, Thomas Harley has been used on the first power-play unit. Dallas went 3-for-10 during that stretch, and Harley recorded an assist on one of the goals. Gulutzan said Harley offers a different look, calling him a player with shot presence, while describing Heiskanen as more of a distributor.
What the Stars say now
Gulutzan said the team is trying to stay patient and careful with both situations. For Hintz, that means waiting out recovery after the setback. For Heiskanen, it means getting through Friday’s practice before any final call is made.
The Stars open the playoffs this weekend with uncertainty still hanging over two important names, and roope hintz remains one of the central questions as Dallas tries to start the series with as much available depth as possible.
