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Stars’ Miro Heiskanen leaves Wild clash with concerning injury
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Stars are in prime position to clinch home ice for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after Thursday night’s 5-4 comeback victory over the Minnesota Wild, but that may not even matter if they lose their top defenseman. Miro Heiskanen sustained a lower-body injury after getting drilled into the boards by Ryan Hartman near the end of the first period, which Robert Tiffin captured via video. He exited and did not return. The latest news will do little to calm fans’ nerves.

“No update on Miro Heiskanen,” Lia Assimakopoulos of Dallas Morning News reported on X. “{Head coach} Glen Gulutzan says they’ll learn more tomorrow, but he doesn’t think Miro will play Saturday.”

The Stars (47-20-12) can probably make it through the final three games of the regular season without playing the 6-foot-2 native of Finland, but it is presently unclear if he will require more time to recover. Heiskanen missed the first round of the playoffs last season after suffering a knee injury, so one can only imagine the frustration he is feeling right now.

Dallas obviously understands the potential damage this late-season development can have on its Cup chances. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft leads the team with 54 assists. He also has nine goals, 132 blocks, 21 hits and a 10+ plus-minus through 77 games. The Stars desperately need a kiss from Lady Luck, otherwise a potential deep run could be cut brutally short.

Miro Heiskanen will see how he feels on Friday and figure out how to proceed.

This article first appeared on NHL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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