The Dallas Stars look dangerous, just one win away from the Western Conference finals. But increased contributions from these five players could take them

Miro Heiskanen had an immediate impact for the Dallas Stars in these NHL playoffs, even after missing 42 games because of a knee injury.

And while two overtime victories and a game seven hat trick from Mikko Rantanen in the team’s opening round win over the Colorado Avalanche certainly served as a path to getting back on track, a daunting task awaited in the second round in the form of the western conference’s top team from the 2024-25 season, the Winnipeg Jets.

Stars head coach Pete DeBoer announced Tuesday that Heiskanen would return to action for Game 4 against the Jets. The Stars activated the defenseman from long-term injured reserve a few hours later, prior to the 7:00 p.m. puck drop.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck lays by the net as Dallas Stars' Sam Steel (18) and the rest of the line celebrate a goal scored by Alexander Petrovic, in pile against the boards, in the third period of Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Dallas, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) AP