Stars make emergency move hours before Game 2

Dallas Stars veteran forward Joe Pavelski’s status for Game 2 remains uncertain after he sustained a massive hit that took him out of the series-opening loss against the Minnesota Wild midway through the second period on Monday.

Hours before Game 2 later today, the Stars recalled forward Riley Tufte from Texas, Dallas’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League.

“We’re going to look at all those options and line combinations and things,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said after a team meeting here Tuesday.

“Seems OK, but we left him at home,” DeBoer added. 

And maybe this move to get Tufte close by has to do with the fact that Pavelski will remain away for Game 2.

Tufte appeared in three games during the 2022-23 campaign with Dallas. Originally from Minnesota, Tufte made his NHL debut on Nov. 13, 2021 vs. Philadelphia and scored his first career NHL goal on March 6, 2022 at Minnesota. Tufte has one goal in 13 career games with the Stars.

This could be a great motivation for him to crack the roster, play well and be the guy they need during Pavelski’s absence, especially if it goes beyond Game 2.

The Stars hope Pavelski is back soon but will be motivated to win for him in his absence.

“You want to rally around it. It leaves a pit in your stomach when things like that happen,” teammate Tyler Seguin said, per NHL.com. “So yeah, it’s emotional, it’s a hard guy to lose and we have to respond for him.”

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