Line Change
Blackwell will be in the Rangers lineup vs. Pittsburgh.
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Dallas Stars News
Benn (lower-body) is questionable to play Sunday vs. the Predators.
Benn was forced to leave Friday's season-opening win over the Predators with a lower-body injury and missed Saturday's practice. Jason Dickinson is expected to replace Benn on the Stars' top line if he can't go in Sunday's rematch.
Erne (COVID-19 protocol) will not travel to Chicago.
Erne, who has missed the last two games in COVID-19 protocol, will miss at least two more games as he remains in quarantine while the Red Wings head to Chicago for a two-game trip vs. the Blackhawks.
Goalie Start
DeSmith will start Tuesday vs. the Capitals.
Erne (COVID-19 protocol) will not play Monday vs. the Blue Jackets.
Erne was added to the COVID protocol list prior to Monday's game, so he will be replaced by Frans Nielsen on the fourth line. There is no indication how long Erne will be sidelined for.
Goalie Start
DeSmith will start Sunday vs. the Capitals.
The Stars re-sign Roope Hintz to a three-year extension worth $9.45 million ($3.15M AAV).
Seguin underwent right hip arthroscopy and labral repair on Monday and is expected to be out for five months.
The Stars have signed Radek Faksa to a five-year deal worth $16.25 million ($3.25M AAV).
The Flames have signed Alex Petrovic to a one-year, two-way deal.
Petrovic spent the entire 2020 campaign with the Providence Bruins (AHL) and will likely do the same in Stockton (AHL) next year. Petrovic is a big, physical defenseman that can log NHL minutes if the Flames find themselves in a bind.
The Rangers have signed Colin Blackwell to a one-year deal worth $1.45 million ($725K AAV).
After spending the last three seasons in the Predators' organization, Blackwell hit the open market on Friday and signed on with the Rangers. In New York he could have a tough time cracking the opening night roster but he's a hard-working winger that could serve a role in the bottom-6 if injuries pop up. He had 10 points (3G / 7A) in 27 games with the Predators in 2020.
Seguin sustained a torn labrum in his hip during the playoffs and is exploring options for possible surgery, which could carry a recovery time of four months.
The Red Wings have signed Adam Erne to a one-year contract extension.
Steve Yzerman brought Erne in from Tampa Bay in the summer of 2019, trading a fourth-round pick in 2020. In his first season with the Red Wings, Erne had just two goals and three assists (five points) in 56 games . Erne is a thick, gritty forward who produced high-end offensive numbers in juniors but it has not translated to the pro-level. He has just 32 points (15G / 17A) in 170 career NHL games.
Faksa is "unfit to play" in Game 6 vs. the Lightning.
Faksa has not appeared in a game during the series, so it's not surprising that he won't be available for a must-win Game 6. Nicholas Caamano will stick in the lineup with Faksa out.
Hintz is "unfit to play" in Game 6 vs. the Lightning.
Hintz will miss his second straight game with an injury that he suffered while crashing into the boards in Game 5. With Hintz still out, Justin Dowling will remain in the lineup for the second straight game.
Hintz is expected to play in Game 2 vs. the Lightning.
Hintz was hobbled by a Mikhail Sergachev shot in the late stages of Game 1 but head coach Rick Bowness expects him to play on Monday. Hintz had an assists in 11:11 TOI in Game 1 and now has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 22 playoff games.
Hintz is on the ice for warmups; expected to play in Game 5 vs. Vegas.
Hintz is questionable to play in Game 5 on Monday.
Hintz was banged up early in Game 4 in a collision with teammate Corey Perry and never returned. This is a problem for the Stars, who are already without Radek Faksa, leaving them extremely thin at centre. If Hintz can't play in Game 5, either Justin Dowling will enter the lineup as a 12th forward or Taylor Fedun could be back in as a seventh defenseman.
Faksa is unfit to play in Game 5 vs. the Golden Knights.
Faksa missed Game 4 and has already been ruled out of tonight's Game 5. Roope Hintz was banged up in Game 4 and is questionable tonight, so the Stars could be really thin at centre if he's a no go. At that point, they will likely go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen and we would likely see a lot of Tyler Seguin and Joe Pavelski double shifting on the fourth line.
Seguin is expected to play in Game 1 vs. Calgary.
Seguin missed the Stars' round-robin finale but will be available for Game 1 according to head coach Rick Bowness. Seguin failed to record a point in his two round-robin appearances and had no points in three games vs. the Flames this season.