Stars Announce Nils Lundkvist News After 'Deep' Facial Cut in Game 4
The Dallas Stars couldn't finish the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 of their first-round series, allowing the game to reach overtime and ultimately falling 3-2.
Following the loss, the Eastern Conference first-round series is now tied at 2-2 as the matchup shifts back to Texas, where the Stars split the first two games with the Wild.
Amid a tight Game 4, all attention turned toward a bizarre sequence near Dallas' crease that forced an unexpected lineup change for the Stars and could have a broader impact in the series.
Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left the game and did not return after being involved in a collision close to the Stars' goal. The play happened when Lundkvist tangled with Michael McCarron while defending the play. As both players went down, McCarron's skate made contact with Lundkvist's face, cutting him up.
Lundkvist takes a skate to the face pic.twitter.com/1DbjJvTk9m
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) April 25, 2026
After the game, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan provided an initial update but did not offer a firm timeline for Lundkvist's return.
"He's got a deep facial laceration from that skate," Gulutzan said. "He just didn't return, so we'll have him looked at when we get home."
While Gulutzan confirmed the team will reassess Lundkvist's condition once they return to Dallas ahead of Game 5, the head coach was asked whether the defenseman had gone to the hospital, and he couldn't answer.
"I have no idea if he's in the building or not," Gulutzan said.
Glen Gulutzan said that Nils Lundkvist had a deep facial laceration from the skate and will be evaluated when he returns to Dallas.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) April 26, 2026
He wasn't sure if Nils left the building to go to the hospital tonight.
The 25-year-old defenseman had been part of the Stars' rotation throughout the series, logging steady minutes as part of Dallas' second pairing on the blue line.
Lundkvist has played 66:58 minutes through his Game 4 exit, scoring two points (both assists) and two shots on goal across 88 shifts.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas at 8 p.m. ET, where the series will resume as a best-of-three affair.
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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 11:53 AM.