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    Stephen Kerr
    Stephen Kerr
    May 22, 2024, 22:14

    Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Jake Oettinger left practice with an illness, gives updates on other injured players.

    Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Jake Oettinger left practice with an illness, gives updates on other injured players.

    Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports - Morning Skate: Oettinger Leaves Practice, Hintz and Hakanpaa Day-to-Day

    With the Dallas Stars having played 13 games through two rounds of the post-season, injuries and other health issues are popping up.

    Head coach Pete DeBoer announced goalie Jake Oettinger left Wednesday's practice after feeling under the weather. However, DeBoer is confident his starting netminder will be ready to go against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Thursday at American Airlines Center.

    "Jake got out (of practice) early, stayed for most of practice but was feeling a little under the weather, so he went off," DeBoer said. "No injuries... I don't foresee any issues."

    Oettinger has played in every game during the postseason with a 2.09 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. He finished the Second Round series against the Colorado Avalanche with a .911 SV% after a .925 average against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.

    If Oettinger is unable to play, Scott Wedgewood is the most likely candidate to replace him. Wedgewood has not seen action at all this postseason and finished with a 28-16-7 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

    Hintz and Hakanpaa Injury Report

    DeBoer also gave updates on forward Roope Hintz (upper body) and defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) following Wednesday's practice.

    Hintz, who left in the first period of Game 4 against Colorado after blocking a Sean Walker shot and then taking a cross-check from Nathan MacKinnon, missed the remainder of that game as well as games 5 and 6.

    Hintz skated on his own prior to Wednesday's practice and is listed as day-to-day, according to DeBoer.

    "Roope skated pretty extensively before we got out there, and he looked good," DeBoer said.

    After registering just one empty-net goal in the Stars' first-round series against Vegas, Hintz scored a goal and had three assists for four points in the Game 2 victory over the Avalanche. He currently has six points (2-4-6) this post-season.

    Hakanpaa did not skate on Wednesday, although he has been doing so on his own for several weeks. DeBoer declared him day-to-day but said the 31-year-old defenseman will likely not be available to start the Western Conference finals.

    Hakanpaa finished the regular season with 12 points (2-10-12) and averaged 18:38 of ice time. In 33 career post-season games with Dallas and the Carolina Hurricanes, he has recorded a goal and three assists for four points.