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.
Robertson was injured in the final game of the season, and remains out of the lineup, week-to-week, without further update. Given the uncertainty and lack of updates around Robertson's injury, it would be surprising to see him return in the first round of the playoffs. The 25-year-old forward had 80 points (35G / 45A) in 82 games this season.
Heiskanen has practiced in a non-contact jersey the past few days and will travel to Colorado with the Stars. The tight first-round matchup is tied 1-1 with Game 3 on Wednesday, followed by a two-day break before Game 4 on Saturday. Heiskanen scored 25 points (5G / 20A) in 50 games and would provide a huge lift for a Stars team that struggled defensively down the stretch.
Despite his struggles in the opening game of the series, the Stars will unsurprisingly stick with their franchise netminder between the pipes for Game 2. Oettinger was thoroughly outplayed by Mackenzie Blackwood in that first game, allowing four goals on just 23 shots. It was the continuation of a season-ending slump for Oettinger, who has now posted an 0-4-1 record and an .841 SV% in his last five starts. The Stars enter action on Monday as slight underdogs at +125 on the money line.
Bourque logged the second-lowest TOI (10:37) in Game 2, finishing with three SOG, 2 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. He's expected to be replaced by Colin Blackwell in the lineup for Game 2.
Blackwell was a healthy scratch in the season finale and Game 1, but is expected to replace Mavrik Bourque in Game 2. Blackwell finished the regular season with 17 points (6G / 11A) in 63 games.
Heiskanen took part in the Stars' morning skate but will remain sidelined for Game 2 vs. the Avalanche. Consider him questionable for Game 3.
Robertson was hurt early in the Stars' season finale in Nashville and is out week-to-week. Robertson has been ruled out for Game 1, leaving the Stars without two of their top players to start the series, with Miro Heiskanen also sidelined. With Robertson out, the Stars will go with a more balanced lineup, with Mikko Rantanen skating with Wyatt Johnston, while Roope Hintz centres Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund.
Robertson left the game after a collision with Michael McCarron and was unable to return. It's unclear at this time whether this is simply a precautionary measure or if Robertson's status for Game 1 of the playoffs is truly in jeopardy.
Petrovic played the previous two games for Dallas, but has been assigned to the Texas Stars (AHL), creating space for Tyler Seguin to be activated from IR. The 33-year-old Petrovic is averaging 14:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in five NHL games this season.
Bichsel has been assigned to Texas (AHL), creating cap space for Tyler Seguin to be activated from IR for Dallas' final game of the season. The 20-year-old Bichsel will likely be recalled before Dallas begins the playoffs.
Seguin last played on December 1st and subsequently underwent hip surgery that has kept him out of the lineup for over four months. The 33-year-old Seguin had an excellent 2024-25 campaign before his injury, scoring 20 points (9G / 11A) in 19 games this season. He has participated in full-contact practices over the last week and will likely return to the lineup in Dallas' season-finale on Wednesday.
Seguin last played on December 1st and subsequently underwent hip surgery that has kept him out of the lineup for over four months. The 33-year-old Seguin had an excellent 2024-25 campaign before his injury, scoring 20 points (9G / 11A) in 19 games this season. He has participated in full-contact practices over the last week and could return to the lineup in Dallas' season-finale on Wednesday.
