The Dallas Stars are going to be with out Joe Pavelski for no less than the subsequent two video games of their opening-round collection in opposition to the Minnesota Wild. The Dallas heart is not touring with the crew for Games 3 and 4 as he stays in concussion protocol after being on the receiving finish of a brutal hit, courtesy of Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, in Game 1.
Stars head coach Pete DeBoer mentioned Thursday that he had “numerous hope” that Pavelski can return to the ice sooner or later through the first-round collection.
“He’s getting higher on daily basis,” DeBoer mentioned, in response to TSN. “He was on the sport final night time, simply not approaching this journey.”
During the second interval of Game 1, Pavelski, 38, was lit up by Dumba on a play behind the web. Pavelski instantly left the sport after the hit, one which left Dumba with a two-minute minor penalty for roughing. After a assessment of the play, he wasn’t given any main penalty.
“To be sincere, I assumed it was a clear hit. I figured (the refs) had been going to see the identical. Shoulder on shoulder,” Dumba mentioned following Game 1. “I do not even know why I bought the roughing, most likely as a result of I used to be simply within the field already.”
DeBoer said after Game 1 that Pavelski’s head hit the ice when he fell after the hit.
“We have one of the best officers on the planet. They known as a 5, they reviewed it, which is the best factor to do. If they reviewed and determined it wasn’t a foul hit then, you already know, I suppose it isn’t for me to argue with that,” DeBoer added. “They bought to have a look at it at a number of completely different angles and that was the choice they made, so we have to stay with that.”
The Stars are being additional cautious with Pavelski, as he does have a historical past of concussions all through his size profession. Pavelski did not play in Game 2, however the Stars rebounded in a giant means with a dominant 7-3 win.