Ex-Wild defenseman Ryan Suter will need to step up in game 5 tonight if Chris Tanev can't play for Dallas.
Former Wild defenseman Ryan Suter will have to step up tonight for the Dallas Stars if Chris Tanev can't play.
Tanev, 34, suffered a lower-body injury in game four against the Edmonton Oilers. He did not return for the third period and is now questionable to play tonight in game five.
The veteran defenseman was seen wearing a boot on his foot in the Edmonton airport so speculation of a broken foot has surfaced.
This would be a tough blow for the Stars if Tanev can't play in game five. He currently leads all players with 68 blocked shots this postseason already.
Lian Bichsel, the Stars' 18th overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft, is expected to draw into the lineup tonight if Tanev can't play.
Bichsel, 20, has not played in an NHL game and split time between the AHL's Texas Stars and the Swedish Hockey League this year.
Dallas has essentially been playing with four defensemen all playoffs, which you can see from the table above. Game one went into double overtime which is why the minutes are higher for Suter and Alex Petrovic.
If Tanev doesn't play tonight, it's hard to imagine the Stars will replace his minutes with Bichsel who hasn't played an NHL game yet in his career, or Petrovic who is averaging just over 11 minutes in his last three games.
Thomas Harley will get more minutes but Suter should as well. The 39-year-old defender played over 19 minutes last game and has one goal and four points in 17 playoff games for the Stars this year.
He is a plus-1 and will be relied upon to help Bichsel and help the Stars move past the Oilers in game five. The series is tied at 2-2 so game five is a big one and the Stars need Suter to step up in a bigger role if Tanev can't play.
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