The Dallas Stars could be without Miro Heiskanen for the first round of the playoffs, coach Pete DeBoer told reporters on Tuesday.
Heiskanen has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28 with a left knee injury. He suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights, getting the worst of an awkward collision with Mark Stone.
One week later, Heiskanen underwent surgery and was set to miss about three to four months. That would bring him to late April or May. The playoffs begin on April 19.
However, DeBoer said it’s “a realistic possibility” the Stars will have to play a playoff series without their No. 1 defenseman. He added that he hasn’t been on the ice but is progressing off the ice and in the gym.
Heiskanen could be a huge loss for Dallas going into the playoffs, considering his role and play this season.
“We’re going to get Colorado, Winnipeg, somebody really good in the first round,” DeBoer said ahead of Dallas’ clash with the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday evening. “On paper, we’re going to have similar lineups to whoever we’re playing.”
As of Tuesday, the Stars are set to host the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs if the standings stay the same. Dallas’ defense, minus Heiskanen, will have to handle the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Cale Makar and more.
In 50 games this season, Heiskanen scored five goals and 25 points. The 25-year-old was on a five-game point streak before his injury.
In addition to his offensive abilities, the reliable Heiskanen plays well over 20 minutes per game. This season, he’s averaged 25:10 and has never averaged less than 23 minutes per game in his seven-year career.
Since the injury to Heisakanen, the Stars haven’t dropped from their second-place position in the Central Division. But they had the third-fewest goals against per game in the NHL, with 2.46. Since then, they rank 17th in that statistic at 3.13 goals against. They’ve outscored any defensive issue with 4.13 goals-for per game since Jan. 29, which leads the league.
The Avalanche closed in on Dallas in the standings and only sit two points behind them. The Stars have two games in hand.
Dallas lost its last two games to the Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets. Later in the month, the Stars will face the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames, three more teams in a Western Conference playoff spot or in the race.
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