EDMONTON -- Roope Hintz returned for the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Tuesday.
Hintz replaced Evgenii Dadonov, who didn't have a point and was minus-3 in the first three games of the series.
Hintz, a center, sustained a lower-body injury at 3:46 of the third period in Game 2 on Friday after he was slashed on the left leg by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. Hintz, who had to be helped off the ice, declined to comment on the play.
“I was just backing up,” Nurse said Tuesday. “I said that night I got a shot at the back, and I think it's just a natural reaction. It's probably a play that everyone in this room, whether you're an forward or (defenseman), probably happens a dozen to two dozen times in a year, and unfortunately (it) must have got him in a bad spot.
“You don't want to go out there and hurt anyone, but it was just one of those plays that happens every so often.”
Hintz was not on the ice for an optional morning skate Tuesday. He was also a game-time decision for Game 3 on Sunday, a 6-1 loss. He participated in warmups but left the ice early and did not play.
"Of course you want to go every night, but sometimes you just can't," Hintz said on Monday. "So, yeah, I don't know how close I [was]."
Asked what the process would be for Hintz for Game 4, coach Pete DeBoer had said: "Heal and get better, and we'll cross our fingers. He'll try it again in warmup and we'll see."
Hintz had said he wasn’t sure whether the decision would be made in warmups. The 28-year-old is in his seventh NHL season, and he's going to have to balance discomfort against his ability to skate with speed, one of his strengths.
"I have played that many years that I know when it's good and when it's not," Hintz said. "I should be good to know that as it comes to that decision."
Hintz has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 15 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied for second on Dallas behind linemate Mikko Rantanen, who has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 16 games.
The Stars have been outscored 9-1 the past two games, have lost two straight for the first time in the playoffs and trail the best-of-7 series 2-1.
"He's a huge part of our team," Dallas center Wyatt Johnston said. "Would love to have him back out there with us as soon as possible."
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report
