Stars’ Roope Hintz out day-to-day with upper-body injury
The Dallas Stars are going to be missing one of their top offensive weapons.
When speaking to the media, head coach Pete DeBoer revealed that forward Roope Hintz will not be playing on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens. He also stated that Hintz is considered day-to-day due to injury.
Roope Hintz is out tonight.
Pete DeBoer lists him as “day to day”.
In response, the Stars called up forwards Matej Blumel and Justin Hryckowian from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars.
DeBoer didn’t exactly specify what is ailing Hintz, though it’s most likely in relation to what happened to the Finn on Tuesday night. In the first period during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Hintz was involved in a collision with Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. It was Hintz’s fourth and final shift of the game, as he didn’t return due to an upper-body injury. Hintz was a minus-one while registering 2:27 of ice time.
Thursday night will mark just the second time Hintz will miss a game this season. In late November, the 28-year-old missed a contest due to an undisclosed injury.
Hintz has been the Stars’ top goal-scorer this season. He leads the team in goals with 19, last finding the back of the net on Jan. 9 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He sits tied for fifth on the Stars in scoring with 27 points.
Blumel has played in three games so far this season, having yet to score a point. He has appeared in each of Dallas’ past two games. Hryckowian made his NHL debut on Dec. 29, last seeing action with Dallas on New Year’s Eve.
Since bursting onto the scene during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Hintz has been one of Dallas’ top offensive weapons at 5-on-5 and on the power play. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged over 70 points, though Hintz is currently on pace to post less than 60 this year.
The Stars (28-14-1) are third in the Central Division, six points back of the Winnipeg Jets for first place.