Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen out week-to-week with lower-body injury

The Stars ended up losing the game, 5-4, in overtime.

On a positive note, DeBoer pointed out that Heiskanen will not need surgery, and that the injury is not terrible.

This is the first time that the 24-year-old will be out of the lineup this season. He had to miss some time last year due upper body injuries, including leaving Game 3 in the second round against the Seattle Kraken.

In 37 games this season, Heiskanen has scored four goals and 23 assists. He had been playing a lot on the top pair with Ryan Suter. He had picked up four assists over the last four games, including an apple in the loss to the Avs.

With no definitive timetable for his return, d-men like Thomas Harley and Jani Hakanpaa are going to have to have to step up and play bigger minutes.

Heiskanen is in the third year of an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.45 million. In 391 career games, the former third-overall pick has registered 231 points, scoring 45 points in 68 playoff games.

The Stars (22-10-5) are trying to keep up with the top teams in the Central Division. They enter Friday in third place, four points back of the Colorado Avalanche, and six points clear of the Nashville Predators for a Wild Card spot. The Preds and Stars scheduled to meet in Dallas on Saturday night.