Stars’ Roope Hintz Out for Playoffs; Miro Heiskanen’s Status Improves

The Dallas Stars are facing a challenging start to the playoffs as top-line center Roope Hintz will not be available after suffering a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury. Coach Glen Gulutzan shared this news on Wednesday, just before the Stars wrapped up their regular season against the Buffalo Sabres.

Gulutzan expressed disappointment over Hintz’s condition, stating, “We thought we could have him maybe for the beginning of the series, and it doesn’t look that way.” Despite the setback, he noted that Hintz is making progress, emphasizing the need for caution as the playoffs approach.

Hintz has been sidelined since March 6, when he was injured during a narrow 5-4 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. As the Central Division’s No. 2 seed, the Stars are set to face off against the third-seeded Minnesota Wild this weekend.

On a more positive note, Gulutzan indicated that the team is experiencing a boost in health elsewhere, particularly with the potential return of top defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Heiskanen has been out since April 9 due to a lower-body injury, missing three consecutive games. “He’s getting better, but it’s kind of day to day right now,” Gulutzan commented, adding that he remains hopeful about Heiskanen’s availability for the playoffs. “Obviously a big player for us.”

Additionally, the Stars are welcoming back center Sam Steel, who is set to return against Buffalo after missing nine games due to an undisclosed injury. Steel’s return follows that of Radek Faksa, who recently rejoined the lineup after an extended absence of 24 games due to upper- and lower-body injuries, further enhancing the Stars’ lineup as they gear up for the postseason.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.