Just before facing the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon, the Stars’ defense, which has been depleted by injuries, restocked with AHL call-ups and then depleted again, took another hit: the team announced defenseman Roman Polak would miss the game with an illness.
A game after losing John Klingberg at least four weeks to an injury that required surgery, with defensemen Stephen Johns (post-traumatic headaches) and Connor Carrick (foot) also on injured reserve, and with a host of newcomers filling out the roster, the Stars used their 10th defenseman this season.
Against the Predators, a team tied for the NHL’s best record at 12-3 and averaging 3.