3 Keys: Stars at Kraken, Game 4 of Western 2nd Round

(2C) Stars at (WC1) Kraken

Western Conference Second Round, Game 4

Seattle leads best-of-7 series 2-1

9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS

SEATTLE -- Miro Heiskanen will be a game-time decision when the Dallas Stars visit the Seattle Kraken in Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday.

The defenseman wore a full shield during the morning skate to protect a bad cut on his left cheek. He took a puck in the face and left early in the second period of a 7-2 loss in Game 3 on Sunday.

"It's ugly," Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. "I think there's not much more to say than that. Thank God there wasn't more damage, and luckily he's a tough kid."

Heiskanen had 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) in 79 games during the regular season, tying for fifth among NHL defensemen with Brandon Montour of the Florida Panthers and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres. He averaged 25:29 of ice time per game, sixth among NHL skaters.

RELATED: [Complete Stars vs. Kraken series coverage]

The 23-year-old entered Game 3 averaging 29:45 of ice time per game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading NHL skaters, and had seven assists in Dallas' first eight games. He plays a key role in exiting the defensive zone, especially important against an aggressive forechecking team like Seattle.

"He's one of the best defensemen in the League, and I'm just happy that he's in front of me every night," Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said. "I just feel bad for him, looking at his face and stuff right now. But we need him. He's one of the leaders on this team."

Jared McCann, who led the Kraken in goals (40) and points (70) during the regular season, took reps with the fourth line, power play and penalty kill during Seattle's morning skate. He hasn't played since sustaining an undisclosed injury on a hit in Game 4 of the first round against the Colorado Avalanche on April 24.

"I haven't changed his status at this point in time," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "I expect we'll see him in warmup tonight. That's another progression for him."

Here are 3 keys for Game 4:

1. Jason Robertson

Joe Pavelski returned to his usual spot on the Stars' top line with Robertson and Roope Hintz during the morning skate, putting Tyler Seguin back with Mason Marchment and Max Domi.

Robertson has no points in the series after he had seven points (two goals, five assists) in six games against the Minnesota Wild in the first round. He had an NHL career-high 109 points (46 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games during the regular season, leading the Stars and tying for sixth in the NHL with Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

DeBoer said the line combination is not necessarily the solution for Robertson, saying, "We're going to set the table for him, but you've got to help yourself too."

2. Turnovers

Though the Kraken outscored the Stars 5-1 in the second period of Game 3, they were outshot 17-8.

"We gave up too much in that period," Hakstol said. "I mean, most of those, give them credit for making good plays. But most of those came right off our tape in terms of quick transition or a broken play that they're getting in behind us. Those aren't opportunities you could afford to give up to that hockey team."

3. Jake Oettinger

Oettinger allowed five goals on 17 shots in Game 3 and was pulled after the second period. His .706 save percentage was his worst in 139 regular season and 18 playoff games during his NHL career.

But in games following a loss, the Stars goalie was 17-1-3 with a 1.97 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and four shutouts during the regular season, and he's 3-0-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .920 save percentage after a defeat during the playoffs.

"It's just how it goes sometimes," Oettinger said. "I'm not perfect. Nothing changes for me as far as how I prepare. I've [gotten] to this point doing all the things that I do, and I feel really confident that I can shake that off and have a great performance tonight."

Stars projected lineup

Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment -- Max Domi -- Tyler Seguin

Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Evgenii Dadonov

Luke Glendening -- Radek Faksa -- Ty Dellandrea

Ryan Suter -- Miro Heiskanen

Esa Lindell -- Jani Hakanpaa

Thomas Harley -- Colin Miller

Jake Oettinger

Scott Wedgewood

Scratched: Joel Hanley, Joel Kiviranta, Nils Lundkvist, Fredrik Olofsson, Riley Tufte

Injured: None

Kraken projected lineup

Tye Kartye -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle

Jaden Schwartz -- Alexander Wennberg -- Morgan Geekie

Eeli Tolvanen -- Yanni Gourde -- Oliver Bjorkstrand

Brandon Tanev -- Ryan Donato -- Jared McCann

Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson

Jamie Oleksiak -- Will Borgen

Carson Soucy -- Justin Schultz

Philipp Grubauer

Martin Jones

Scratched: Cale Fleury, Jaycob Megna, Jesper Froden, Chris Driedger

Injured: Daniel Sprong (upper body), Andre Burakovsky (lower body), Joonas Donskoi (upper body), John Hayden (lower body)

Status report

Dellandrea did not skate Tuesday morning. "He's dealing with a flu, so back at the hotel," DeBoer said. ... Sprong did not skate Tuesday after leaving Game 3 at 11:21 of the second period after taking a hit in the corner; the forward is day to day. "He's unavailable," Hakstol said. … Froden, a forward who played 4:09 in his lone playoff appearance this season, likely would enter the lineup if McCann is out.