Dallas Stars News

Heiskanen is expected to return in the coming days as Stars' general manager Jim Nill stated he expect Heiskanen to return for either Thursday or Saturday's game. Nill added that Heiskanen is at a point in his recovery where he would be able to play if it were the playoffs. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games.

Robert Hagg will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Lyubushkin to return to the lineup after a one-game absence due to an upper-body injury. Lyubushkin has four penalty minutes and -4 plus/minus in his last two contests.

Oettinger surprisingly served as the backup for both games of a back-to-back set over the weekend after coming down with an illness, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Oettinger has won six of eight contests against the Red Wings in his young career while posting a 2.59 GAA and .896 SV%. The Stars, who have collected a point in two straight (1-0-1), are -135 road favourites against a Red Wings club that has won four of their last five.

The Oilers have placed Erne on waivers, a move likely made to help make room for the addition of Corey Perry. Erne has struggled to establish himself in the Oilers roster this season, being limited to only two points (1G / 1A) in 23 games.

Erne will draw out of the lineup for the first time since December 19th, allowing Sam Gagner to return from an undisclosed injury. Erne has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games while playing predominantly on the fourth line.

Oettinger will look for his third straight win when he tends the twine on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. After a porous first start in his return from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, Oettinger has rebounded nicely, saving 51 of 53 shots faced (.962 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). The Stars are -129 road favourites against a Flyers club riding a four-game winning streak.

Oettinger struggled in his first game back from a four-week absence with a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, but was much better the following night, entering the game in relief of an injured Scott Wedgewood, saving 20 of 21 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars are -129 home favourites against a Los Angeles Kings team that ended an eight-game losing streak last night with a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and historically fared well against Oettinger, getting the better end of the score in two of three contests.

Heiskanen will miss his sixth-straight game on Tuesday when the Stars host the Los Angeles Kings but could return in the coming days as he will travel with the team on their upcoming four-game road trip. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games. Expect Thomas Harley to continue his increased deployment and usage on the top powerplay while Heiskanen is out of the lineup.

Oettinger struggled in his first game back from a four-week absence with a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, but was much better the following night, entering the game in relief of an injured Scott Wedgewood, saving 20 of 21 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars are -129 home favourites against a Los Angeles Kings team that ended an eight-game losing streak last night with a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and historically fared well against Oettinger, getting the better end of the score in two of three contests.

DeSmith will start for the second time in the last four games for the Canucks in an afternoon tilt in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. In his last outing, DeSmith saved 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders, improving to 7-3-2 with a 2.53 GAA and .913 SV% on the season.

Oettinger will make his first appearance in goal for the Stars since suffering a lower-body injury on December 15th. Dallas' number-one netminder was in the midst of a cold streak prior to the injury, losing three of his previous four starts and posting an .838 SV% over that stretch. He owns an 11-7-2 record on the season along with a .901 SV% and a 2.93 GAA. He draws a favourable matchup in his first game back with the Stars being -175 on the moneyline.

Its been four games since DeSmith last took over the Canucks' starting crease but he will draw the Islanders in New York Tuesday. The 32-year-old backup net-minder has expectedly done well in his first season with Vancouver, with his 6-3-2 record, 2.58 GAA and .917 SV%. He'll face New York on the road, who has lost three of their last four and are middle of the pack offensively averaging the 18th most goals per game in the NHL (3.08).

Heiskanen awkwardly collided with his goaltender Scott Wedgewood while backchecking and exited the game in the third period after playing only 14:38 time-on-ice. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games. Heiskanen's presence on the blue line will be sorely missed for the Stars, as he averages over 25 minutes per night. Expect Thomas Harley to see in an increase in deployment during Heiskanen's absence, including a role on the top powerplay unit.

Heiskanen played 14:38 TOI before departing Thursday's game vs. the Avalanche. He got hurt in a collision with Scott Wedgewood and makes him questionable to play Saturday vs. the Predators.

Lundkvist played three straight for the first time since November but will return to the press box as a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Joel Hanley to draw back into the lineup. During his three-game stretch, Lundkvist scored three points, fired four shots on goal, and registered a +3 plus/minus rating.

Faksa will re-enter the lineup for the Stars in favour of Ty Dellandrea, who is expected to be a healthy scratch. Faksa has not played the last two games and has zero points and only two shots on goal in his last four contests.

Oettinger has not played since exiting a contest against the Ottawa Senators on December 15th in the first period with an upper-body injury. Scott Wedgewood has taken the reigns in the Stars' crease during Oettinger's eight-game absence, helping the team go 5-2-1 in that stretch. With Oettinger's status being upgraded from week-to-week to day-to-day, his return is on the horizon, and he should return to seeing the bulk of action between the pipes for the Stars.

Lundkvist will play for only the second time in the last eight games for the Stars as he will re-enter the lineup in favour of Joel Hanley. Lundkvist, who was acquired by the Stars last offseason for a first-round pick, has failed to impress the Stars' coaching staff and establish himself as a permanent fixture in their lineup. He has seven points (0G / 7A), averaging 14:37 time-on-ice in 24 games this season.