As if things weren’t going bad enough for the Stars defense lately, Mark Stepneski of ESPN Dallas reports that Mark Fistric suffered a groin injury in practice this morning and won’t be able to play Wednesday night in Ottawa. As a precaution, the Stars announced this afternoon they have recalled Swiss defenseman Severin Blindenbacher from the Texas Stars. Blindenbacher has only appeared in eight games for Texas due to a concussion he suffered early in the season in a car accident.
While the injury to Fistric is obviously a bit of a downer, I know many fans will be eager to see what the “Blindenbacher 3000” (as we lovingly call him) will do with the big team. He certainly impressed in the preseason, and was perhaps the second best “fringe” player in camp besides Aaron Gagnon. But hold your horses, people. According to ESPN Dallas:
Stars coach Marc Crawford indicated earlier today that if the Stars did call up a player from Texas due to the Fistric injury, he may not play in the game tomorrow. The Stars already have Jeff Woywitka available to insert in the lineup to take Fistric’s place.
Makes sense. This is why you have Woywitka, for emergencies like these. Best case scenario is that Fistric only misses Wednesday, Woywitka plays like Nicklas Lidstrom against the Senators and Blindenbacher gets sent back down the next day and things are back to normal for the blueline. And yes, I know I’m asking for a lot on that second part.
Press release after the jump….
FRISCO, Tex. — The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Severin Blindenbacher from the Texas Stars, Dallas’ primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Blindenbacher, 27, has appeared in eight games for Texas, scoring one goal and three assists for four points with four penalty minutes. He represented Switzerland at the 2010 Olympic Game in Vancouver, recording one goal and one assist in five games. Blindenbacher signed as a free agent with Dallas on July 1, 2010.
The Stars will take on the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday at Scotiabank Place (6:30 pm CT, FOX Sports Southwest, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket). The team returns to Dallas to take on the St. Louis Blues this Friday at American Airlines Center (7:30 pm CT).