Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer provided yet another update on top-line centre Roope Hintz ahead of his team travelling to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Final.
Hintz, 27, has been out of the Stars’ lineup since suffering an upper-body injury early in the team’s Game 4 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2. DeBoer confirmed on Sunday that Hintz was set to travel with the Stars to Edmonton later that same day.
Additionally, DeBoer commented on the chances Hintz will return to the lineup in either of the Stars’ upcoming games in Edmonton: “I’m optimistic he’s going to play on this trip for sure.” He noted that Hintz was “close” to returning in Game 2 against the Oilers and added that “he probably would have played” if it was a Game 7.
A quick thread from today's Pete DeBoer media availability prior to the #TexasHockey charter flight to Edmonton:
• Roope Hintz is traveling and will be a game-time decision. DeBoer said "I’m optimistic he’s going to play on this trip for sure."
— Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) May 26, 2024
Hintz collected two goals and six points in 11 playoff games with this year’s Stars before being injured midway through their Western Conference semifinal series. He tallied 30 goals and 65 points in 80 games during the 2023-24 regular season.
The Stars originally selected Hintz in the second round (No. 49 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. The Nokia, Finland product has recorded 147 goals and 310 points in 392 career games with the Stars, tacking on 21 goals and 55 points in 74 playoff contests.
DeBoer also provided an update on defenceman Jani Hakanpaa, who has been out of the Stars’ lineup since mid-March while recovering from a lower-body injury. Hakanpaa did not travel with the Stars to Edmonton and, according to DeBoer, is “not close” to making his return.
In Hakanpaa’s absence, the Stars have elected to dress former Oilers defenceman Alex Petrovic in their No. 6 spot for both games against the Oilers thus far. Petrovic’s last NHL action before this season came all the way back in 2018-19, when he skated in nine games with the Oilers after being acquired by then-GM Peter Chiarelli in his last-gasp trading frenzy.
The Stars won Game 2 against the Oilers by a 3-1 score, tying the West Final at one game apiece as it shifts to Edmonton on Monday. The two teams will reconvene at Rogers Place for Game 3 this evening at 6:30 p.m. MT.
