Stars miss Roope Hintz as they're on the brink of elimination against Wild in Stanley Cup playoffs

If center Roope Hintz were available for the Dallas Stars in their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, things may be different. 

The Stars would create more scoring opportunities. They wouldn't let the Wild impose their will. And most importantly, they wouldn't be making boneheaded mistakes. 

Alas, Hintz — who hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury in a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 6 — wasn't available on Tuesday night and probably isn't going to return anytime soon. His absence only increases the chance the Stars will fail to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

Stars continue to miss Roope Hintz in series against Wild

Before Game 5 in Dallas on Tuesday night, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said Hintz wouldn't return, even though he's skating again. He added it's unlikely he'll be ready for a Game 6 or 7. If the Stars play the way they did Tuesday, don't count on there being a Game 7. 

The Wild struck first when right winger Mats Zuccarello scored 3:51 into the first period shortly after Dallas defenseman Tyler Myers committed a giveaway. Zuccarello missed Games 2-4 after taking an elbow to the head in Game 1. It must be nice for the Wild to have one of their key contributors back. The Stars wish they could say the same.