Dallas Stars Defense Shaken as Nils Lundkvist Lands on Injured Reserve

The setback arrived after Thursday, when Lundkvist left against Vancouver with a lower body issue and never returned. He had three points in four games and, more importantly, crisp first passes that kept Dallas on schedule.

Week to week is the vague zone nobody loves, but it gives coaches permission to adjust, not wait. The second power play unit loses a right side release, so entries must lean on chips behind pressure and quick bump backs.

At five on five, the prescription is simple, shorten the routes. Pair a puck mover with a stay home partner, let Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley carry touches, and demand the weak side defenseman close the slot early.

Penalty kill details matter too. Without Lundkvist's stick up top, the middle forward has to cheat inside, take away the bumper seam, and live with point shots that Jake Oettinger can see clean.

As a fan, I hate this timing, because Lundkvist finally looked free again. The building felt his confidence, and confidence can be contagious on a blue line that rides rhythm.

The next few nights will reveal the hinge game. If Dallas commits the low center early, the weak side exit opens, and those blind rims that feed opponent point shots turn into shoulder high clears.

There is a human layer here, and it is patience. Week to week often means one good skate followed by a cautious no, so the training staff will pace this to protect the rest of his season.

The opportunity lives below the headline. A depth defenseman can steal minutes by winning first touches, finishing net front box outs, and resetting breakouts with two short passes instead of one risky stretch.

This is not a crisis, it is a stress test the Stars can pass with structure and support. Bank points while the blue line stabilizes, then welcome Lundkvist back to a machine that never stalled.