Center briefly participated in warmups after being injured in Game 2
© Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
Roope Hintz did not play for the Dallas Stars in a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Sunday.
The center traveled with the Stars and participated in warmups but left the ice after about five minutes.
Dallas trails the best-of-7 series 2-1. Game 4 will be in Edmonton on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, ESPN, ESPN+).
“You’re without your No. 1 center,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “I give our guys credit. They didn’t mail it in. They showed up and worked.”
Hintz had to be helped off the ice at 3:46 of the third period of Game 2 on Friday after he was slashed on the top of the left foot by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. Edmonton won the game 3-0 to tie the best-of-7 series.
Nurse was originally assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing, but it was downgraded to a two-minute minor following a review.
Hintz has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games after he had 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) in 76 regular-season games.
“We’re without our No. 1 center,” DeBoer said. “We’re on the road here in a tough environment. I thought we played a really good hockey game for a big stretch of that game, so there’s nothing to get emotional or upset about.
“I think you have to be realistic with your group. I liked our compete tonight. I liked a lot of parts of our game, and we’ve got to build on that and hopefully get Roope Hintz back and get back in the series.”
A second-round pick (No. 49) by Dallas at the 2015 NHL Draft, the 28-year-old has 377 points (175 goals, 202 assists) in 468 regular-season games and 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) in 93 playoff games.
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