Jason Robertson returns to Stars lineup for Game 1 vs. Jets

After an entire playoff series without their two best players, the Dallas Stars returned one of them to the lineup for Game 1 in Winnipeg Wednesday night.

Forward Jason Robertson, who was ruled a game-time decision by head coach Pete DeBoer Wednesday morning, made his 2025 playoff debut in the first game against the Jets at Canada Life Centre. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen remains out, but is expected to return later this series.

Robertson, the team’s leading scorer, had been out since April 16 with a knee injury sustained in the season finale against Nashville. He accounted for 35 goals and 45 assists before his injury.

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“He’s our best goal scorer,” DeBoer said. “But also what you realize with Robo is he’s a big body, and he plays a heavy game, a playoff-type game. He’s hard on pucks, protects pucks, goes to scoring areas on the ice. He’s good on the walls. We’ve missed him since he’s been out.”

In his absence, Mikael Granlund moved up to Dallas’ top line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. In the final few games of the series against Colorado, that line proved to be Dallas’ best, and DeBoer didn’t want to split it when Robertson returned.

That meant the Stars’ top scorer found himself deeper in the lineup on a line with Mason Marchment and Wyatt Johnston.

Heiskanen has been out since Jan. 28 with a knee injury suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars’ top defenseman had 25 points in 50 games this regular season.

He’s been day-to-day since the start of the playoffs, but still has not seen the ice in the playoffs.

Full coverage: Mikko Rantanen does it again, Stars take Game 1 vs. Jets