Stars’ Roope Hintz 'game-time decision' for Game 2

Hintz has been out of the lineup since Game 4 in the Stars’ second round series against the Colorado Avalanche, where he suffered a lower-body injury. He’s been day-to-day ever since, but has yet to be fully cleared to return to action. Dallas has won just once in their three games without Hintz, although it was the series clinching win against the Avs.

Hintz hasn’t been quite as dynamic in these playoffs as we’ve come to expect from him in the past, with only 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in 11 games. He also had a bit of a down season in the regular season with 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 80 games, which was his lowest point total in a season with more than 60 games played.

Hintz was a second-round pick for the Stars at the 2015 NHL Draft, a draft that only produced one other NHLer for Dallas in Denis Gurianov. After making his NHL debut in the 2018-19 season, he has spent six seasons in the league, all playing in Dallas.

The 27 year old is currently in the first year of an eight-year contract with an $8.45 million cap hit, one he signed as an extension early in the 2022-23 season.

The Stars currently find themselves down 1-0 in the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday. Dallas will look to tie the series in Game 2 on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST, and hopefully it’s with the help of Hintz.