Dallas returned from its holiday break with a sizable batch of COVID-positive tests. The Stars announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Miro Heiskanen, center Radek Faksa, plus wingers Jason Robertson, Michael Raffl and Joel Kiviranta have all been placed into COVID protocol along with two support staff members. They will all now be out for at least the next 10 days.
Heiskanen is obviously a significant loss as the team's top defenseman. The 22-year-old has four goals and 14 assists in 28 games this season while leading the Stars at 24:32 per game. With Jani Hakanpaa also recently entering COVID protocol, Dallas will need to bring up a blue-liner from AHL Texas.
The Stars also have to recall several forwards as they are down to 11 on the active roster with three of their active players entering protocol Sunday. (Kiviranta is currently on IR with an upper-body injury.) Robertson sits second on the team in scoring with 10 goals and 15 assists in 23 games and is the only Star averaging more than a point per game on the season. Faksa has been limited to just two goals in 27 contests but has won an impressive 57% of his faceoffs while Raffl has eight points in 28 games on the season.
Dallas is next scheduled to take to the ice on Wednesday against Colorado pending any other adjustments to the schedule.
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