DALLAS — Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz is out for Game 5 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night because of an upper-body injury.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer said after the morning skate that Radek Faksa will be back in the lineup.
Faksa hasn't played since Game 1 against the Avs on May 7, two nights after scoring the game-winning goal in Game 7 to clinch their first-round series over Vegas. He had missed four games before that because of an undisclosed injury.
A victory on Wednesday night would send the Stars to the Western Conference Final for the second year in a row.
Hintz has two goals and four assists in 11 games this post-season. He had a goal and three assists in Game 2 against the Avalanche.
In the Stars' 5-1 win at Colorado in Game 4 on Monday night, Hintz played only 6 1/2 minutes. He left after blocking a shot in the first period, after earlier going down hard when cross-checked by Nathan MacKinnon.
Hintz saw just 6:35 of ice time.
Hintz scored 30 goals and added 35 assists in 80 regular-season games for the Stars.
“We essentially played without him the last game. … We shifted everybody around last game, so it's not a major adjustment,” DeBoer said. “He left early and then (Craig) Smith left for part of the game. So we were down to 10 forwards for the middle portions of that game. So, you know, tonight will be a luxury to have 12 guys.”
Chris Tanev and Smith were also being evaluated after the game, but DeBoer said that both are "fine" for Game 5.
You can catch all the action as Dallas tries to advance to the Western Conference Final on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. Puck drops at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
--with files from Sportsnet staff
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