The Dallas Stars will be without Patrick Sharp and Jordie Benn over the next stretch of games after both players suffered injuries. The Stars are battling for playoff position in the Western Conference, and they will have to continue without Sharp or Benn in the lineup for at least a week.
Sharp is dealing with a lower-body injury and is expected to be out for five to seven days. Benn is also dealing with a lower-body injury, but his is more serious and could keep him out for up to two weeks. The Dallas Morning News reported that Sharp originally suffered the injury on Monday and tried to play through it for the Stars on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators.
Sharp was forced to leave the game against Nashville after playing just 11 minutes. Sharp is expected to miss games against the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators over the next week for the Stars. Sharp has been very productive for the Stars this season, putting up 17 goals and 30 assists in 65 games played. Sharp is listed as "day-to-day" with the injury.
Valeri Nichushkin was spotted taking Sharp's place in practice on a line with to Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Benn played 13 minutes against the Predators and now will be out for one to two weeks with a lower body injury. Kris Russell skated with John Klingberg in place of Benn in practice on Thursday.
The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season, but they have been slumping as of late. Dallas has lost seven of the last eight games, going 3-5-2 over the last 10. The Stars have lost four in a row, and they are hoping that Sharp and Benn can return soon to give the team a boost. The Stars play against the Devils on Friday before visiting the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Sharp is expected to miss those games, and he also could be out for the matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The next two games after that for the Stars will be home matchups against the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, which could be crucial for the Central Division race.
The Stars are battling for the division title with the Blackhawks and Blues, and all three teams are currently tied with 83 points coming into Thursday night. Chicago is leading with 39 wins on the season, while Dallas has a 38-20-7 record this year.
