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If the Dallas Stars are going to reach the Western Conference final for the third year in a row, they’ll have their work cut out for them as they open the playoffs Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
Coach Peter DeBoer said Friday that leading goal scorer Jason Robertson is week-to-week after limping off the ice in the final game of the regular season. But he said the Stars’ scoring depth could help the team overcome the loss of the 35-goal scorer.
Dallas added playoff standout Mikko Rantanen at the trade deadline and also got a 20-goal season out of Evgenii Dadonov. Forward Tyler Seguin returned from a hip injury for the season finale.
“If you’re talking about an injury to a key, key player, we’re probably better able to absorb that in that position than probably some others,” DeBoer told reporters.
The Stars, also missing defenseman Miro Heiskanen, are on a 0-5-2 slide.
Here are some other NHL playoff teams’ injury situations:
Miro Heiskanen injury update
The Stars defenseman has been since before the 4 Nations Face-Off because of a knee injury. But he took part in Saturday’s morning skate.
“It’s another step,” DeBoer said. “He’s being re-integrated with our group.”
DeBoer said he won’t play in Game 1 but can be considered day-to-day. Heiskanen’s next step would be taking part in a practice with contact.
Gabriel Landeskog injury update
Landeskog hasn’t played for the Avalanche since the 2022 championship because of a serious knee injury but completed a two-game conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. He scored a goal in the second game of playing back-to-back nights. Coach Jared Bednar said he expects Landeskog to be “an option for us” against the Stars.
“He’s close. He’s getting close,” Bednar told reporters Friday. “Obviously, every day I feel like he’s getting a little bit quicker, a little more confident, a little more sure of himself.”
Landeskog was on the ice for the morning skate but didn’t dress for Game 1.
Matthew Tkachuk injury update
Tkachuk hasn’t played since being hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Florida Panthers catch a break because their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning doesn’t start until Tuesday. Coach Paul Maurice said this week that “everybody is possible” for Game 1.
Tkachuk was on the ice Saturday.
“Matthew looked like Matthew. He looked fine,” Maurice said. “But it wasn’t a heavy enough day from a duration point of view long enough to make a game assessment. We’ll see how he comes back tomorrow and put the whole group on the ice Monday.”
The Panthers will be without defenseman Aaron Ekblad, whose 20-game PED suspension will keep him out until Game 3.
Leon Draisaitl injury update
The NHL’s leading goal scorer with 52 hasn’t played since April 3. Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said earlier this week he expected all of the team’s injured players to be ready for the series against the Los Angeles Kings, except for defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
Logan Thompson injury update
The Washington Capitals goalie left an April 2 game with an upper-body injury. Coach Spencer Carbery noted Thursday that Thompson (31 wins) is skating again. He said forward Aliaksei Protas (skate cut on foot) was progressing but wasn’t back on the ice.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
