Stars’ Roope Hintz “game-time decision” for Game 2

The Dallas Stars may be getting more of their depth back in Game 2.

Stars head coach Peter DeBoer told the media on Saturday that center Roope Hintz is a game-time decision to return to the lineup 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 in Game 6 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 year 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, Hintz 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 double 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 added boost of having Hintz back in the lineup.