The Dallas Stars announced Saturday prior to their matinee game against the Vegas Golden Knights that forward Roope Hintz will miss action due to an illness.
The Finnish forward has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 24 games in 2023-24. He currently sits third on the Stars in the points column trailing Jason Robertson at 24 points and veteran Joe Pavelski who has 25 points. Hintz is coming off a two-goal outing after scoring two during the Tars 5-4 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
This is the first game Hintz has missed since the season opener after he was sidelined with an upper-body injury. Hintz is coming off his best season in the NHL, as he had 37 goals, 38 assists and 75 points in 73 games in the 2022-23 season. It’s the second time he’s finished above a point per game in a season, as he also had 43 points in 41 games in 2020-21. He also continued that play into the playoffs, where he had 10 goals, 14 assists and 24 points in 19 games as the Stars were eliminated in the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston has taken Hintz’s place on the top line. Johnston has nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 25 games this season. The Toronto, Ontario product tallied 24 goals and 41 points in his rookie campaign last year with the Stars after making the team out of training camp.
The Stars currently sit second in the Central Division behind the Colorado Avalanche with a record of 15-7-3 and 33 points, trailing just one point behind the Avs. After their rematch against Vegas, the Stars are set to take on Patrick Kane and the Detroit Red Wings on Monday and the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
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