The Dallas Stars are down one of their top forwards.
Roope Hintz exited Monday’s Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche at the start of the second period with an upper-body injury. The Stars listed him as “questionable to return,” and he did not come out for the final frame.
Hintz appeared to sustain the injury early in the second period when he took a cross-check from Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon on his right side. He briefly remained on the ice, though appeared to be in pain, and in that time, blocked a shot and was cross-checked in the back by defenceman Sean Walker.
He saw just 6:35 of ice time.
Head coach Peter DeBoer said Hintz, along with Chris Tanev and Craig Smith, were being evaluated and that the team will know more about their status on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old has played 10 games for the Stars this post-season, potting one goal and six points. In 80 regular-season games, Hintz had 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points.