A potentially huge blow to the Dallas Stars’ playoffs hopes.
On Wednesday night, in the team’s regular-season finale against the Nashville Predators, Stars forward Jason Robertson left the game with a lower-body injury. The young scoring threat was hurt after being involved in an awkward collision with Predators forward Michael McCarron. Robertson didn’t return.
The concern level rose quickly after the game when word started to get out that his exit was more than just for precautionary reasons. According to Predators reporter Emma Lingan, Robertson left Bridgestone Arena still in pain, wearing a brace on his right knee.
Jason Robertson just left Bridgestone Arena with a brace on his right knee. Still looks to be in quite a bit of pain
— Emma Lingan (@emma_lingan) April 17, 2025
Robertson played just 6:06 of Wednesday’s game across nine shifts. The Stars went on to lose the game, 5-1.
The injury to Robertson has quickly led to a outcry from fans and media alike, questioning head coach Pete DeBoer’s decision to even play the 25-year-old. DeBoer admitted after the game that the team didn’t do a good job of properly resting players heading into the postseason.
“The purpose of resting people down the stretch was to hopefully avoid injury,” DeBoer said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t do that with the Robertson injury. So, tough night.”
Robertson is one of six Stars to have played every game this season. He led the team with 35 goals, finishing third behind Mikko Rantanen and Matt Duchene in overall scoring with 80 points on the year.
With the Robertson’s status in question, there’s a chance the Stars are going to be without two of their best players when the playoffs get underway this weekend. The team is already going to be without its best defenseman, as Miro Heiskanen is still recovering after undergoing knee surgery in January.
Stars general manager Jim Nill stated that Heiskanen could return to the lineup later in the first round.
The Stars (50-26-6) limp into the playoffs. The loss to the Predators marked the team’s seventh consecutive loss. Even though they have home-ice advantage in their Central Divison Semifinal matchup with the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas has very little momentum heading into the postseason, and potentially even more shorthanded.