Stars’ Roope Hintz out for Game 3 against Oilers

Not good news for a team ahead of an important game.

Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz has been ruled out for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers.

When speaking to the media in the lead-up to the contest, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer revealed that forward Roope Hintz is a game-time decision. Hintz was on the ice for warmups, but left after about five minutes.

This comes after Hintz was forced to leave the second game of the semifinal series after receiving a hard slash from Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. Hintz was caught on the left leg and had to be helped off the ice by teammates and team training staff.

Nurse was initially assessed a major penalty for slashing, but the penalty was brought down to the minor after a video review.

Following Friday’s 3-0 loss, DeBoer made it clear that he wasn’t too pleased with the diminished penalty after one of his top players was forced to leave the game.

“Does anyone in this room think that if Connor McDavid gets carried off the ice like that, that it’s not a five-minute major?” DeBoer said. “That’s my answer to your question.”

Hintz has appeared in the first 15 games of the Stars’ postseason and has certainly been one of the team’s most consistent producers. While the Finn isn’t scoring at the same clip as fellow countryman Mikko Rantanen, with five goals and six assists for 11 points, Hintz is tied for second on the Stars in playoff scoring with Thomas Harley.

Hintz picked up an assist in Dallas’ 6-3 win in the series opener against the Oilers. He notched seven points in the first round against the Colorado Avalanche before scoring a goal and an assist against the Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division Final.

Puck drop for Game 3 from Edmonton is scheduled for a little after 3 p.m. ET.