Heiskanen was on the ice again on Tuesday but did not participate in line rushes or PP drills, suggesting that he will not be in the lineup for Game 1 on Wednesday. Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell will continue to man the PP units for the Stars while Heiskanen is out.
Blackwell did not participate in Tuesday's practice, and it doesn't sound like he'll be available for Game 1 on Wednesday. Luckily for the Stars, it looks like Jason Robertson may return to take Blackwell's spot in the lineup.
Robertson missed the entire first round with a knee injury he suffered in the Stars' season finale, but it looks like he could play in Game 1 vs. the Jets. Robertson was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, skating on a line with Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment and on the second power-play unit. Expect an update following Wednesday's morning skate.
Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer previously stated that he expects Robertson to play in Round 2 but could not confirm if that meant Game 1 or later in the series. Robertson has not played since the final game of the season when he exited the contest with a lower-body injury.
Robertson was upgraded from week-to-week to day-to-day ahead of Game 6 in Colorado, but he's not ready to return to the lineup for Game 7. Robertson figures to return in Round 2, if the Stars win on Saturday.
Heiskanen continues to progress in his recovery from a knee injury, but he will not play in Game 7 vs. Colorado. Heiskanen figures to return to the lineup in Round 2, if the Stars pull it out on Saturday night.
Robertson has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in the final game of the regular season but is inching closer to a return. That said, he has not participated in full-contact practice yet and is likely targeting a round-two return to the lineup if the Stars can advance.
Heiskanen continues to ramp up intensity at practice but will remain out of the lineup on Thursday for Game 6. The 25-year-old Heiskanen has not played since suffering a knee injury in late January and continues to be day-to-day.
The Stars can advance to the second round with a victory on Thursday in Game 6 and will roll with Oettinger between the pipes. The 26-year-old Oettinger saved 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in Monday's 6-2 win, guiding the Stars to a 3-2 series lead. He has a 2.58 GAA and .914 SV% through five games this postseason (3-2). The Stars enter Game 6 as +169 underdogs on the road in Colorado, where Oettinger has a stellar .935 SV% in two games this postseason.
Heiskanen has ramped up intensity at practice, seeing some contact, but will remain out of the lineup for Game 5 on Monday. The Stars struggled defensively in Game 4, losing 4-0, and would greatly benefit from Heiskanen playing. Given the desperation Dallas faces in Game 5, it poses concerns about when Heiskanen may be ready to return.
To some surprise, Oettinger exited Game 4 in the second intermission with his team down 3-0 despite a solid effort, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%). Head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed he did not suffer an injury and was resting Oettinger to prepare for Game 5 on Monday. The 26-year-old Oettinger has been solid in the 2024-25 postseason, posting a 2.72 GAA and .911 SV% in four outings (2-2). Dallas enters Game 5 on Monday as +125 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that dominated Game 4 with a 4-0 victory.
Oskar Back (undisclosed) will draw back into the Stars' lineup for Game 5, sending Bourque back to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Bourque had 25 points (11G / 14A) playing 73 games in his rookie season this year but will be a healthy scratch for the third time in five games with start the postseason.
Back has battled an undisclosed ailment the past few games, exiting Game 2 and 3 for short periods of time, and not playing in Game 4. However, he will return to the lineup in Game 5, replacing Mavrik Bourque. The 25-year-old Back is making his postseason debut this year and has one point (0G / 1A) in three games.
A first-round playoff return for Jason Robertson seems unlikely as his team prepares for Game 5 on Monday night and he has only just returned to skating. Robertson was injured in the final game of the season, and remains out of the lineup, week-to-week. The 25-year-old forward had 80 points (35G / 45A) in 82 games this season.
After allowing four goals on 24 shots (.833 SV%) in Saturday's 5-1 Game 1 loss, Oettinger responded nicely, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in Monday's 4-3 overtime Game 2 victory. The win was Oettinger's first in four games (0-3-1) dating back to the end of the regular season. The Stars enter Game 3 on Wednesday as +161 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche team that could receive a morale boost from Gabriel Landeskog, who could return to the Avalanche lineup for his first NHL game in nearly three years.
