Veteran Stars defenseman day-to-day with lower-body injury

Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Dumba is being called day-to-day after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of Saturday night’s game against the New York Islanders, via Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News. Dumba was hurt during his second shift of the game when he was tripped by Islanders forward Casey Cizikas and he fell awkwardly onto his right leg which was pinned underneath him when he fell.

Dumba left the game briefly but returned to action and played an additional six shifts and finished the first period logging 6:02 in total ice time. The 30-year-old did not come out with the team to start the second period and missed the rest of the game. Dumba was ruled doubtful to return a short time later.

After the game, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told the media that the Regina, Saskatchewan native will have scans taken on Monday and is considered day-to-day until they have more information regarding his ailment.

A former seventh overall pick, Dumba signed a two-year deal with Dallas on July 1 for a total of $7.5M. He is no longer the impactful defender he was earlier in his career, but he remains a serviceable NHL defenseman, and his absence will create a hole on the Stars’ backend that is likely to be filled by Brendan Smith.