For the first time this series, the entire Dallas Stars roster will be available against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Tuesday morning that defenseman Jani Hakanpää will be available to play in Game 3 against the Golden Knights — the first game of the series at American Airlines Center.
Hakanpää has been battling an unspecified lower-body injury since Game 4 of the series against the Seattle Kraken. He missed Games 4 and 7 that series as well as the first two games against Vegas.
While DeBoer did not confirm whether Hakanpää will play Tuesday night, he will be an option to re-enter the lineup on Dallas’ third defensive pair.
“He’s 6-6, 220, he’s a stopper,” DeBoer said. “Penalty killing, physicality — we missed him. We missed him in the lineup.”
Hakanpää leads the Stars in blocked shots per 60 minutes this postseason at 8.32. Despite missing four games, he also leads his team in hits at 44.
He has one goal and one assist in the playoffs after scoring six goals and 10 assists in the regular season with a plus-minus of plus-18.
In his absence, Collin Miller has played alongside Esa Lindell. Both Lindell and Miller have been putting up minus numbers in both games against Vegas.
Hakanpää spoke on his recovery Monday.
“It’s getting better every day, so that’s a good thing,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of progress here. Slowly but surely.”
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