The Dallas Stars are looking to end their losing streak after consecutive defeats to the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche. With one eye on the NHL regular season and another on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Mikko Rantanen and the rest of the team received concerning news as head coach Pete DeBoer provided an injury update on one of the team’s biggest names.
Dallas is looking to turn the page after a series of deflating losses against divisional opponents. However, their season is still on track and barring a disaster, the Stars will be a playoff team, and one of the biggest contenders in the Western Conference.
However, as the team gears up for the regular season finale, and the upcoming postseason, coach DeBoer issued a blunt statement to the roster, indicating a star teammate of Mikko Rantanen could miss the postseason, or at least the opening round.
“Pete DeBoer says there is a real possibility Dallas might have to play a first round series without Miro Heiskanen,” Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine stated on his X account.
Heiskanen’s injury
The 25-year-old Finnish defenseman has been sidelined since January 28, when he collided with Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, suffering a knee injury which required surgery. Though Heiskanen has made great progress, it may not be enough for him to be in the lineup during the opening round of the playoffs.
Hello, old friends
With the postseason looming, there’s growing buzz around potential First Round matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Due to the NHL’s wildcard system, many matchups tend to be recurring, as teams from the same division often face familiar foes year after year.
Colorado and Dallas are trending towards a first round matchup, setting up a rematch from last year’s Second Round clash, in which the franchise in the Lone Star State moved on. Thus, it’s all pointing to a reunion between Rantanen and his former teammates in Colorado.
However, that’s getting too far ahead in the horizon for both parties. At the moment, the primary focus in Dallas is getting back on the win column, and hopefully getting Miro Heiskanen back healthy and available for the playoffs.