Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski has been ruled out for games 3 and 4 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild. The 36-year-old veteran suffered an upper-body injury during game 1 of the series, which the Stars won 3-0.
Pavelski did not play in game 2, which the Stars lost 3-2 in overtime. It was initially hoped that he would be able to return for game 3, but the team announced on Tuesday that he will not travel with the team to Minnesota.
The loss of Pavelski is a significant blow for the Stars, who signed him as a free agent last summer. He finished the regular season with 14 goals and 11 assists in 51 games, and has been a key player for the team in the playoffs so far.
In his absence, the Stars will need other players to step up and fill the void. Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and Alexander Radulov are all capable of scoring goals and creating offense, but they will need to be at their best if the team is to advance to the second round.
The Stars will also need strong performances from their defense and goaltending. Anton Khudobin has been solid in net so far, but he will need to continue playing at a high level if the team is to have a chance against the Wild.
Despite the setback, the Stars remain confident that they can win without Pavelski. Head coach Rick Bowness said that the team has “a lot of depth” and that they are “not going to use [Pavelski’s absence] as an excuse.”
The Stars will look to bounce back from their game 2 loss when they take on the Wild in game 3 on Wednesday night. The series is currently tied at one game apiece.
