Tuesday night was Stars’ fans first shot at catch Connor McMania — and also their opportunity to potentially bear witness to the second coming’s first NHL point.
It was also, unfortunately, a night where Patrick Eaves was injured during the game. The team announced between the first and second period that Eaves suffered a lower body injury and would not return to the game.
It’s a tough deal for Eaves, who hasn’t been able to shake the injury bug in recent seasons and has been a surprisingly solid offensive presence for the team when he’s been healthy.
Last season he was out of the lineup from December 2 through January 27. Then he missed a couple weeks again in mid-February. Once he returned, he was seeing good power play time on the top unit and was generally effective for the team.
After he returned to the lineup on March 1 he scored eight goals and six assists, including two game-winning goals and three power play goals, through 19 games.
Injury Update: Patrick Eaves has suffered a lower body injury and will not return to tonight's game. #EDMvsDAL
— Dallas Stars at NHL All-Star (@DallasStars) October 14, 2015
All told, Eaves played 47 games for Dallas last season, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists. The last time he was able to make it more than 60 games in a season was the 2010-11 season. Through 11 NHL seasons he’s only crossed 70 games twice.
