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.

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.

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.

Stars head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Thursday that Miro Heiskanen has been ruled out week-to-week due to a lower-body injury.

As if the Golden Knights’ rivalry with the Dallas Stars needed more fuel to the fire. Captain Mark Stone’s tripping penalty on Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen at 7:56 of the third period was a chaotic moment that proved to be the turning point in the Knights’ 4-3 overtime loss Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is the current recipient of backlash after he was involved in a collision that injured Dallas Stars superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen.