The Dallas Stars' playoff preparations hit a concerning snag Thursday night as star defenseman Miro Heiskanen exited their game against the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury. The incident occurred late in the first period when Heiskanen was driven into the boards by Wild winger Ryan Hartman.

Heiskanen appeared to get caught awkwardly between Hartman and the boards, going down hard on the ice. While he was able to skate off under his own power, he subsequently left the bench with a trainer and did not return for the second period. The team officially listed him as questionable to return for the remainder of the game.

This potential setback comes at a critical time for Dallas, with just three games remaining in the regular season before a likely first-round playoff matchup. Heiskanen has been a workhorse this season, playing in 76 games and leading all Stars defensemen in scoring while averaging the most ice time of any skater on the team.

The Stars are already navigating significant injuries, with Tyler Seguin ruled out for the year and Roope Hintz working to return before the postseason. Losing Heiskanen, their defensive anchor and primary puck-mover, would be a massive blow to their Stanley Cup aspirations as they enter the final stretch.