'Definitely Not Tomorrow': Heiskanen Ruled Out Again as Benn Takes His Next Swing at 1,000 Against a Red-Hot Jets Team

By Nolan Frost, RF Sports Radio Stars voice

Stars Nation, we got our answer on Miro Heiskanen, and it is not the one you wanted. But the bigger story tonight at American Airlines Center might be a captain with 999 points, and a Winnipeg team that suddenly cannot lose.

The facts

Glen Gulutzan ruled Heiskanen out for Thursday's game against Winnipeg, per NHL.com and CBS Sports. "He won't be in tomorrow. We hope maybe on the weekend, but it's definitely not tomorrow," Gulutzan said Wednesday. "He's on the ice, so it's just not practicing right now. If he gets on the ice with the group, then I think he is probably pretty close to playing, but he's not there yet." Heiskanen skated on his own Wednesday. He has three goals and eight assists in 15 games and averages 24:53 of ice time, and tonight will be his third straight missed game, per NHL.com.

Jamie Benn sits at 999 career points, all with Dallas, per Dallas Sports Journal. Mike Modano is the only Star with 1,000. Point 999 came Saturday in the 4-3 win over San Jose. KCEN notes Benn, 37, has seven points in 17 games and was a fifth-round pick, 129th overall, in 2007. "I think Jamie is playing great hockey," Gulutzan said, per CBS Sports.

Dallas is 3-0-1 in its last four and is rested, last playing Saturday. Winnipeg has won four straight after a nine-game winless skid, including a 4-2 win over New Jersey on Tuesday in which Dawson Mercer and Kyle Connor scored twice each, per CBS Sports. Mercer and goalie Nico Daws came over in the Oct. 23 trade that sent Connor Hellebuyck to the Devils. Dallas kills 89.7 percent of penalties. Puck drop is 7 p.m. CT on Prime Video and KDFI, per NHL.com.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: holding Heiskanen out is the right call, and I am glad Gulutzan said it plainly. You do not rush your best defenseman back in November for a home game when this group has gone 3-0-1 without him.

That said, the Jets are not the team that went nine games without a win. Connor is a pure shooter, and Mercer is playing like a guy with something to prove. Thomas Harley has to be great again.

As for Benn: it happens tonight. A secondary assist counts, and he is skating with Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. Somebody on that line is going to score.

Prediction: Stars 4, Jets 2, and Benn gets 1,000 in the second period.

What to watch next

Watch for Benn's milestone, how Gulutzan handles the third pair, and whether Heiskanen joins the group for the weekend. For Tuesday's practice report, read our Nov. 11 Heiskanen practice report, and follow the Stars on our Dallas Stars page.

Radio question: is Jamie Benn a Hall of Famer once he hits 1,000?

Sources: NHL.com - NHL Status Report, Nov. 11; CBS Sports / FLM - Surging Jets visit Stars seeking fifth straight win; Dallas Sports Journal - Stars vs. Jets: Benn eyes 1,000th point; KCEN - Jamie Benn one point from 1,000.