Dallas Stars Updates: Hemsky Progressing, Johns Still Out
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars held their regular morning skate this morning in preparation for tonight’s game against the Lightning. There were a few familiar faces both on and missing from the ice.
It was October 22, 2016 when Ales Hemsky last skated competitively for the Dallas Stars. It was a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but there was a much worse loss that the Stars were set to experience.
In his first game of the season, Hemsky ended up further injuring a hip that had been giving him issues since the World Cup of Hockey. He would have surgery a couple of days later and was projected to be out 5-6 months.
When you do the math, Hemsky was not expected to be playing until late March, at the very earliest. But now that projection looks as though it may have been overestimated by a bit. Hemsky has been skating with the team at morning skates for the past few games and is even skating without a no-contact jersey on.
“We had a timetable when I got the surgery, but then I progressed and got better and better,” Hemsky said after today’s morning skate. “It’s pretty much on me when I feel comfortable and feel better on the ice.”
Dallas Stars
The 33-year-old has been with Dallas for three seasons now after signing with the team in the 2014 offseason and is a helpful piece of the Stars’ offense. In 152 games with the Stars, he has scored 24 goals and tallied a total of 71 points. So almost a point every other game. That’s not bad for a player who has spent his time on the second and third lines.
Now he is aiming to get back in the lineup as the Dallas Stars continue to struggle in finding consistency.
“Obviously I would like to play if I feel good enough” he said. “It’s going well and I think I’m pretty close.”
While he doesn’t believe that he’ll feel 100 percent when he initially jumps back in and knows that it will be a challenge to readjust, he thinks that he will be able to find a groove and adapt.
With the Dallas Stars sitting at 22-27-10, they will need nothing short of a miracle after a 1-7-0 start to February has put their playoff hopes on life support. Maybe Hemsky is part of that miracle? While there is no definite return date for Hemsky, this upcoming off week should help out a lot in the recovery process.
Johns still out with illness
At today’s morning skate, head coach Lindy Ruff reported that the Dallas Stars would once again be without defenseman Stephen Johns tonight as he battles what is now considered to be the flu.
As the Dallas Stars players continue to rotate on and off the injured list, the season hangs by a thread. A win tonight could really boost some motivation going into the break. A loss tonight would only further diminish the small hope that still remains.
Next: Stars Need Comeback Win Tonight Against Lightning
Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. on FSSW and 1310AM/96.7FM The Ticket.