The Dallas Stars could get a crucial piece back in the lineup tonight. Head coach Pete DeBoer said he expects Miro Heiskanen to suit up for Game 4 of their second-round playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets.
Dallas Stars Set to Regain Top Defenseman as Miro Heiskanen Nears Return
Out since January 28 with a knee injury, Heiskanen will take part in the morning skate. If everything checks out, he’ll be back on the ice for the 8 p.m. ET puck drop at American Airlines Center.
“Miro’s going to skate this morning, and then we’ll see how it goes,” DeBoer said [via nhl.com]. “I anticipate he’ll play tonight if that goes well.”
Heiskanen underwent knee surgery in early February after a collision with Vegas forward Mark Stone. The initial recovery timeline was three to four months. Despite his absence, Dallas has pushed forward, taking down the Avalanche in a seven-game series and now holding a 2-1 edge over Winnipeg.
Before the injury, Heiskanen was a key presence on the ice, logging over 25 minutes a night and tallying 25 points in 50 games. His return could give Dallas a major lift in a pivotal game.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger is thrilled at the prospect of Heiskanen’s comeback. “Best defenseman in the NHL, in my opinion,” he said [via nhl.com]. “Whenever you can insert a guy like that, it’s obviously a huge boost. As a goalie especially, just happy to have him back.”
While the team is optimistic, DeBoer emphasized they’ll be cautious. “We’re not going to put him out on the ice for 30 minutes his first game back in three months,” he said. “We’ll have to be smart about that.”
Dallas may even adjust the lineup to ease Heiskanen back in, potentially dressing seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
Stars’ Depth Has Held, But Heiskanen Lifts the Ceiling
The Stars have held firm without their top defenseman. Young players like Thomas Harley and veteran Alexander Petrovic have stepped into larger roles. Petrovic even scored the game-winner in Game 3.
Still, Heiskanen brings a different level of skill. He led Dallas defensemen in points during last year’s playoffs and was tracking to do the same again.
Forward Mikko Rantanen shared [via nhl.com], “He’s not overly physical, but it’s hard to catch him, and he’s very good breaking the puck out and joins the rush and is obviously hard to defend on the blue line because of the way he moves.”
With a chance to take a 3-1 series lead tonight, the timing couldn’t be better.
Game 4 begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, and with Miro Heiskanen likely back in the mix, Dallas will be looking to strengthen its grip on the series.
