FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Stars centre Mike Ribeiro will miss four to six weeks after being accidentally hit in the throat with a stick during a game against the New York Rangers.
Ribeiro was placed on the injured list Thursday and will remain hospitalized in New York for a few days.
He underwent a tracheotomy Wednesday night as part of a procedure to repair a throat contusion.
The treatment came a few hours after Ribeiro was struck by the stick of New York's Christopher Higgins as the players crossed paths at centre ice in the second period of New York's 5-2 victory.
Higgins was assessed a two-minute minor penalty.
Ribeiro has 10 goals and 23 assists in 43 games for the Stars.