Updates on Injured Dallas Stars Miro Heiskanen & Roope Hintz Ahead of Playoffs

According to a report from insider Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday morning, the Dallas Stars got some good news and some bad news ahead of their tough first-round series with the Minnesota Wild.

Top Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who's been out with a lower back injury for the past week, will be back in the lineup for Game 1, according to the general manager.

“We think he’s going to be available to start the playoffs,” Stars GM Jim Nill told LeBrun.

Heiskanen expected to be ready for Game 1; Hintz is farther away

But the same can't be said for sniper Roope Hintz. Out since March 6th with a lower-body injury, his status "remains in question", writes LeBrun, and "there’s no assurance he will be available in the first round" at all.

The official stance from head coach Glen Gulutzan is that Hintz will not play in the first two games of the series in Dallas, but it sounds like that absence could be extended even longer.

The 27-year-old had 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points in 53 games this season.

Heiskanen has only missed the Stars' last two games, and won't play against the Buffalo Sabres in the regular season finale on Wednesday night. He had nine goals and 54 assists for 63 points in 77 games. His presence is sorely needed for Dallas if they hope to stand a chance against the Wild.

They did somehow manage to find a way to get past the Colorado Avalanche in 7 games in the first round of last year's playoffs without Heiskanen. But they'd be seriously tempting fate to try to win another opening round set without their No. 1 blueliner.