Roope Hintz went down on a kneeing major from Brandon Carlo in the Stars' opener last night, and he still came back into the game.
Carlo was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The Blues defenceman's night ended right there.
For Dallas, the bigger story was the man on the ice. Hintz has dealt with injuries before, and every Stars fan held their breath.
Last season he managed 44 points in just 53 games.
The year before, he played 76 games and produced 67 points. That's the version Dallas is counting on.
In the clip, Carlo's knee catches Hintz as the Stars forward tries to get past him.
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Glen Gulutzan's Stars face a back-to-back with Hintz's health in focus
The Stars visit Nashville tonight on the second half of a back-to-back. Glen Gulutzan has a decision to make about how hard to lean on his top center.
Hintz is 29, with 421 points in 521 NHL games, all with Dallas. He's also put up 69 points in 95 playoff games.
Putting him back in the same night was a gamble Dallas didn't need to take in game one. A center with his history deserves the cautious route, even in a tight game.
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It's like driving on the donut spare because you're already running late. You'll probably get there, but you're one pothole from a bigger problem.
Carlo, 29, is in his first season with St. Louis after stints in Boston and Toronto. A kneeing major in his Blues debut is not the first impression Jim Montgomery wanted.
Player Safety will likely take a look. Whether anything gets added to the major is the next question for both clubs.
Hintz got back up this time. With his track record, the Stars can't assume he will the next time.
Should Brandon Carlo be suspended for kneeing Roope Hintz?
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