Stars Announce Nils Lundkvist News Before Game 6 vs. Wild
The Dallas Stars are trailing the first-round series against the Minnesota Wild 3-2 after a 4-2 loss in Game 5 on Tuesday.
Following back-to-back wins to take a 2-1 series lead, scoring eight goals in those two games combined, the Stars have now lost consecutive outings while scoring just four goals across those two losses.
Only two Dallas players have scored more than two goals in the five games already played, with Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene leading the teams in points with eight each, but no other Stars player has more than six.
Defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who ranks sixth among Stars players in total postseason points with two, both assists, has only appeared in four games after he suffered a facial cut in Game 4 and was forced to leave the game.
According to Lia Assimakopoulos, Lundkvist did not travel with the team ahead of Game 6, with head coach Glen Gulutzan confirming the update.
"Arttu Hyry is on the trip and might be an option tomorrow," Gulutzan said, per Assimakopoulos. "Nils Lundkvist is not."
With that news, Lundkvist is now expected to miss his second consecutive game after suffering the facial laceration from a skate in the fourth game of the series.
"There is a little bit of something else going on," Gulutzan said before Game 5. "We'll wait and see how that transpires. It was a very deep cut, so we've gotta see how that transpires."
Arttu Hyry is on the trip and might be an option tomorrow, Glen Gulutzan said.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) April 29, 2026
Nils Lundkvist is not.
On top of his two assists this series, the 25-year-old has recorded six blocked shots and two hits while averaging 16:45 time on ice per game.
Lundkvist's absence leaves Dallas without a regular option on the blue line in a potential elimination game, with Ilya Lyubushkin expected to remain in the lineup after making his postseason debut in Game 5.
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Minnesota, with the Wild having the first of two chances to advance to the second round.
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 8:53 AM.