Stars’ Joe Pavelski leaves Game 1 after heavy hit from Minnesota’s Matt Dumba

Joe Pavelski left Game 1 of the Dallas Stars’ quarterfinal playoff series against the Minnesota Wild during the second period after being on the receiving end of a heavy check from defenseman Matt Dumba.

Dumba was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for roughing on the play, which occurred at the 12:02 mark of the second period. The officiating crew at American Airlines Center originally called a five-minute major on Dumba but reduced it upon further review.

Pavelski, 38, logged 10:08 of ice time and picked up an assist before being injured midway through Monday’s game. Stars forward Max Domi was assessed a two-minute roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct on the same play.

Although the Stars haven’t commented on his status, Pavelski has yet to return with Dallas and Minnesota still tied 2–2 after one overtime period.

Pavelski recorded the secondary assist on Jason Robertson’s power-play goal at the 4:13 mark of the second period, which gave the Stars a 2–1 lead. Wild forward Sam Steel responded just over 10 minutes later to tie the game at two.

The Stars are looking to win their first playoff series since they reached the Stanley Cup Final back in 2020. Pavelski scored 13 goals and 19 points in 27 games during that Cinderella run, which ended with a 2–0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the championship series.

Pavelski finished second on the Stars with 77 points (28 goals, 49 points) in 82 games during the 2022–23 regular season. The longtime San Jose Shark has collected 449 goals and 1,001 points in 1,250 career games over parts of 17 NHL regular seasons; he’s added 126 points (64 goals, 62 assists) in 169 playoff contests.

Regardless of the result of Monday’s game, the Stars and Wild will return to action for Game 2 at American Airlines Center in Dallas at 9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.