The Dallas Stars are set to bolster their lineup with the return of Roope Hintz and Lian Bichsel for a crucial Central Division clash against the Colorado Avalanche. Hintz recently avoided a facial fracture after a puck incident against Edmonton, while Bichsel missed the last game due to illness. This comes as the Stars, currently at 86 points, aim to maintain their lead over the Avalanche, who trail with 83 points. The absence of Colin Blackwell and Brendan Smith from the lineup further emphasizes the importance of Hintz and Bichsel’s return. Jake Oettinger will be in goal for the Stars during this pivotal contest.

Injury issues continue to plague several NHL teams as the season progresses. Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov skipped practice, while defenseman Dmitry Orlov took to the ice. The Columbus Blue Jackets are dealing with the absence of Jake Christiansen due to an upper-body injury, sidelining him for the next game. The Dallas Stars are hopeful for Roope Hintz's return this Sunday after a puck-related facial injury. Edmonton Oilers forward Mattias Janmark missed a game due to illness.

In Minnesota, the Wild's Jonas Brodin returned to practice after a long absence but remains week-to-week. Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek are also still out with injuries. The New Jersey Devils are bracing for the long-term absences of Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes, potentially impacting their playoff hopes. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators are monitoring Brady Tkachuk's hip concern closely as he aims to return on Saturday.

Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka is currently day-to-day with an undisclosed issue, while teammate Jiri Kulich has returned from an illness. In contrast, Calgary Flames' Mikael Backlund left a recent game with an upper-body injury and is also day-to-day. Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer provided an optimistic update on Roope Hintz, suggesting he could play Sunday after recovering from a facial injury.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens welcomed back Patrik Laine to their roster but were without Joel Armia, who missed a game due to a hand injury. The Pittsburgh Penguins face ongoing injury concerns with defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph remaining week-to-week. Additionally, Toronto Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev is on the verge of returning after being sidelined since February, providing a potential boost ahead of a critical matchup against the Florida Panthers.

Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes recently resumed play, yet Elias Pettersson's status is uncertain after he exited a game early due to an undisclosed injury. The NHL trade deadline has heightened anticipation around player availability and the potential impact on fantasy teams. Monitoring these injuries closely will be crucial for fantasy managers as they prepare for the playoffs.

In the latest NHL news, Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka is day-to-day with an unspecified issue. Meanwhile, teammate Jiri Kulich returns to the lineup after battling an illness. The Calgary Flames face challenges as forward Mikael Backlund left the last game with an upper-body injury. Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer provided a hopeful update on Roope Hintz, stating he could return as soon as Sunday after recovering from a facial injury, contingent on passing a five-day threshold.

Additionally, the Montreal Canadiens see Patrik Laine back in action, but Joel Armia is sidelined due to a hand injury. Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are both week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev remains a question mark for the upcoming game, still day-to-day after an upper-body injury sustained on February 25. Vancouver Canucks' Quinn Hughes has returned from injury, although Elias Pettersson left a recent game with an undisclosed injury, adding to the team's concerns.

Roope Hintz's recovery from a facial injury is progressing positively, according to Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill. After being evaluated by doctors, it was determined that Hintz does not have any fractures. The injury, which occurred near his eye when he was struck by a puck, will keep him sidelined for at least another week as he needs to manage his heart rate to avoid complications related to eye pressure.

Despite the injury, the Stars are fortunate to have a brief window of four days without games, although Hintz is expected to miss crucial division matchups against Winnipeg and Colorado. He has been a considerable contributor this season, tallying 25 goals and 27 assists in 59 games, and the team hopes to have him back for their upcoming home stand.