Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz to miss Game 1 of Western Conference opener

Dallas Stars’ top center Roope Hintz will continue to be sidelined for the opener of the Western Conference Final against Edmonton on Thursday night, while forward Adam Henrique remains unavailable for the Oilers.

Both players are anticipated to make appearances at some stage during the series.

Hintz was absent from the lineup for the last two games of the Stars’ second-round series against Colorado after sustaining a lower-body injury and exiting Game 4 in the first period on May 13.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer indicated during the morning skate on Thursday that Hintz’s status remains day-to-day.

“He’s making progress,” DeBoer stated. “He skated yesterday, skated today. So, you know, we’re hopeful for Game 2.”

Henrique is set to miss his sixth consecutive game due to an ankle injury.

Having sustained the injury in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on May 1, Henrique sat out the series opener against Vancouver, played 11 1/2 minutes in Game 2, and then did not feature for the remainder of the seven-game series.

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch has indicated that Henrique is nearing a return and they anticipate his early involvement in the Western final. Acquired from Anaheim in a midseason trade, Henrique has tallied a goal and an assist in his six postseason appearances.

Hintz has contributed two goals and four assists in 11 postseason games thus far. This includes a goal and three assists in Game 2 against the Avalanche, with an additional assist in Game 3.