It`s remarkable that the Dallas Stars advanced to the second round of the playoffs, having overcome the Colorado Avalanche, despite being without two key players.
The Stars played their first-round series against the Avs without forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen. However, head coach Pete DeBoer expressed his belief that both players could potentially return for Round 2.
While DeBoer didn`t provide a specific date, he informed reporters that he expects both star players to rejoin the lineup at some point during the upcoming series. He did not confirm their readiness for Game 1.
Heading into the decisive Game 7 of their first-round series on Saturday, both players were listed as day-to-day.
The 25-year-old Robertson sustained a lower-body injury in the final game of the regular season, initially described as week-to-week.
He finished the season with 35 goals and 45 assists, accumulating 80 points over 82 games.
Heiskanen, also 25, has been out since January after undergoing knee surgery but returned to practice before the start of the playoffs.
In 50 games before his injury, the Finnish blueliner contributed five goals and 20 assists.
The Stars gain additional recovery time because their second-round opponent is not yet finalized. They will face the winner of the series between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues, which goes to Game 7 on Sunday.
Tristan Blackwood