Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz is a game-time decision for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night in Edmonton, coach Pete DeBoer said at the morning skate.
Hintz sat out the optional morning session, just as he had missed the Stars’ 6-1 loss in Game 3 to the Oilers on Sunday because of a lower-body injury. Edmonton leads 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
“Of course you want to go every night, but sometimes you just can’t,” Hintz, 28, said on Monday. “So, yeah, I don’t know how close I (was to playing). But I have played many years (and I) know when it’s good and when it’s not. I should be good to know that (when) it comes to that decision.”
Hintz was a game-time decision for Sunday but didn’t play after participating in warmups.
“Heal and get better, and we’ll cross our fingers,” DeBoer said of playing Hintz on Tuesday. “He’ll try it again in warmup and we’ll see.”
Hintz was injured at 3:46 of the third period of Game 2 on Friday when he was slashed in the left leg by Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse. Hintz was in front of the Oilers’ net and shoved Nurse, who retaliated by swinging his stick at Hintz’s leg. Hintz was on the ice for several minutes before he was helped off and did not return to the game.
Nurse, who was assessed a two-minute penalty for slashing, talked about the incident for the first time on Tuesday.
“I was just backing up,” Nurse said. “I got a shot at the back, and I think it’s just a natural reaction. It’s probably a play that everyone in this room, whether you’re a net-front guy or (defenseman), probably happens a dozen to two dozen times in a year, and unfortunately (it) must have got him in a bad spot.
“You don’t want to go out there and hurt anyone, but it was just one of those plays that happens every so often.”
Hintz has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and a plus-1 rating in 15 playoff games.
He collected 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-18 rating in 76 regular-season games. Hintz has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars, who drafted the native of Finland in the second round in 2015, and has totaled 377 points (175 goals, 202 assists) and a plus-95 rating in 468 regular-season games over seven seasons.
Hintz has recorded 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) with a plus-4 rating in 93 postseason games.
–Field Level Media
