In a thrilling matchup that ended in a 4-3 overtime win for the Dallas Stars against the Vegas Golden Knights, defenseman Miro Heiskanen suffered an injury during the third period. This incident occurred when he was struck by Golden Knights’ captain, Mark Stone, who lost his balance after being tripped. Stone fell awkwardly, impacting Heiskanen’s left knee and thigh as he came down.

Following the game, Dallas head coach Pete DeBoer, who previously managed the Golden Knights from 2019 to 2022, stated that he had no updates on Heiskanen’s condition. Stone received a two-minute penalty for tripping as a result of the play.

DeBoer defended Stone, emphasizing that he does not consider him a dirty player and believes there was no intent to injure. “He’s not trying to hurt anybody. I know that,” DeBoer remarked. However, he did express that the play could warrant further investigation, suggesting a five-minute major penalty could have been considered.

Stone also voiced his concern, clarifying that he did not aim to hurt Heiskanen. “I go to reach to try and angle him out, and someone tripped me as I was falling forward. I really hope he’s all right. I was just trying to make a play and got tripped into him,” he explained.

A minor altercation erupted between the two teams while Heiskanen remained on the ice after the incident. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the impact of Heiskanen’s injury, stating, “He’s their best defenseman. He goes down and never looks good. He’s a great player. A ton of respect for the way he plays.” Cassidy insisted that the intention was not to injure key players, adding that Stone’s loss of balance was the crucial factor in the play.

The aftermath of the incident raised questions about player safety and the conduct on the ice as emotions ran high during the match.