Back has one point in his previous seven games and will take a seat vs. Winnipeg for Game 3 as Colin Blackwell steps back into the lineup. The 25-year-old Swedish winger is enjoying his first taste of playoff experience and has two assists and one SOG while averaging 11:23 TOI across eight games played.
After allowing three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in Game 3, Oettinger will hope to bounce back and get Dallas back in the win column for Game 3 vs. Winnipeg on Sunday. The 26-year-old has been solid throughout nine starts in the playoffs thus far, with his 5-4-0 record, 2.78 GAA and .910 SV%. He will host the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, who have averaged three goals per game throughout the playoffs.
Blackwell has been a healthy scratch for both of Dallas' opening games of their second series but will draw back in for Oskar Back on Sunday for Game 3. The 32-year-old scrappy forward had a massive overtime goal vs. Colorado in Dallas' opening round series, but has done little offensively since that game, with only one point in six total playoff games.
Oettinger stopped 29 of 31 shots in the Stars' win in Game 1. Oettinger is now 5-3 with a 2.75 GAA and .914 SV% through eight postseason games. Tonight, the Stars will stick with the same lineup as Game 1, as they try to take a 2-0 series lead back to Dallas. They enter the game as +122 road underdogs.
Robertson has been out since the last game of the season on April 16th due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and appears set to return for Game 1 on Wednesday. The 25-year-old is expected to draw back into Dallas' third line and will hope to build off a successful regular season campaign, which saw him produce 35 goals and 80 points in 82 games played.
Oettinger will hope to build off a great performance in Game 7 against the Avalanche on Saturday. The 26-year-old netminder allowed just two goals on 27 shots as the Stars secured the series clinching victory. Oettinger brings a .911 SV% and a 2.85 GAA through seven post-season games heading into a round two matchup against the President Trophy winners. The Stars enter action on Wednesday as very slight road favourites at -115 on the money line.
Robertson has been out since the last game of the season on April 16th due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and is a game-time decision to return in Winnipeg for Game 1 on Wednesday. The 25-year-old is expected to draw back into Dallas' third line and will hope to build off a successful regular season campaign, which saw him produce 35 goals and 80 points in 82 games played.
Heiskanen has been a full participant in Dallas' practices but will remain out for Game 1 in Winnipeg on Wednesday due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old star defenseman has not appeared in a game since January 28th, but appears to be on the cusp of a return. In 50 regular-season games, he had five goals and 25 points while averaging 25:10 TOI.
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.
