With Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer announcing at practice on Thursday that Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been ruled week-to-week with a knee injury, the team was gearing up to play an extended period of time without one of their key players.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen is week-to-week with a lower-body injury sustained on a big hit from Vegas captain Mark Stone, and the standout from Finland won't play in next month's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Heiskanen is now the third critical player the Stars have lost for an extended period of time. Tyler Seguin is out for four-to-six months following hip surgery he had done in December, and Mason Marchment has missed a month for face surgery after taking a puck to the face in late December.

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen was injured in the third period of the Dallas Stars’ 4-3 overtime victory over Vegas after taking a hit from Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.

The former Ottawa Senators star was ripped on social media after colliding with Miro Heiskanen's knee on Tuesday night.

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen was injured in the third period of the Stars' 4-3 overtime victory over Vegas on Tuesday night after taking a big hit from Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.

Las Vegas’ Stone fell into Heiskanen’s left knee in an awkward collision, which forcing Dallas’ top defenseman out of the game.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen left the game against the Vegas Golden Knights after an ugly collision with captain Mark Stone. In the third period of a tight contest, Stone was tripped by Stars forward Roope Hintz,