Hintz was a bit of a surprise scratch on Tuesday but was on the ice for Thursday's optional morning skate and will be a game-time decision vs. the Red Wings. Expect Hintz to reclaim his spot on the top line if he's able to go.
Oettinger will make his first career NHL start on Thursday. With Ben Bishop out long-term, Oettinger will get a few starts behind Anton Khudobin this season. The 22-year-old netminder was 15-16-4 with a 2.57 GAA and .917 SV% in the AHL last season. The former first-round pick has a strong pedigree and makes for a solid spot-start option against an injury riddled and bad Red Wings team.
Oettinger will make his first career NHL start on Thursday. With Ben Bishop out long-term, Oettinger will get a few starts behind Anton Khudobin this season. The 22-year-old netminder was 15-16-4 with a 2.57 GAA and .917 SV% in the AHL last season. The former first-round pick has a strong pedigree and makes for a solid spot-start option against an injury riddled and bad Red Wings team.
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.
Kiviranta was on the ice for the start of Saturday's practice but left the session early and landed on IR on Sunday morning. With Kiviranta on IR, the Stars recalled Tanner Keto from the taxi squad but Rhett Gardner replaced him on a line with Joe Pavelski and Alexander Radulov.
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.
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 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 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.
