Stars’ Chris Tanev leaves Game 4 vs. Oilers with lower-body injury

Dallas Stars’ defenseman Chris Tanev left Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers with a lower-body injury on Wednesday. The Stars said on social media ahead of the third period that Tanev was “questionable to return.”

Defenseman Chris Tanev (lower body) is questionable to return to tonight’s game.

— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 30, 2024

The incident occurred in the second period after Tanev blocked a shot from Oilers’ forward Evander Kane. The blueliner looked to be in discomfort on the bench, eventually going down the tunnel to the Dallas locker room.

Chris Tanev has gone to the Stars dressing room after blocking a shot. pic.twitter.com/FbwQCPA1AC

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 30, 2024

The 34-year-old defenseman has been a rock on the Stars’ blue line through the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Going into Game 4, Tanev was averaging 23:26 of ice time, recording 26 hits and 65 blocked shots.

The Stars acquired Tanev from the Calgary Flames before the March 8 trade deadline, giving up a second-round pick, a conditional third-round pick and prospect Artem Grushnikov.

Full trade, per sources:
To #TexasHockey: Chris Tanev (75% retained), Cole Brady
To #Flames: 2024 2nd Rd Pick, Artem Grushnikov, Conditional 2026 3rd Rd Pick, (50% of Tanev $)
To #njdevils: DAL 2026 4th Rd Pick (25% of Tanev $)

Condition: Only transfers if DAL goes to SC Final.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 29, 2024

Before the Stars acquired Tanev from the Flames, Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli said on an episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE that Tanev would be a great fit for a Stars group that’s looking to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

“I think he provides a different element for this team,” Seravalli said. “He’s second in the league in blocked shots, and the Stars are 22nd. I think they could use someone who just does things a little differently than everybody else.”

Through 19 regular-season games with the Stars, he scored a goal and four assists for five points. Before joining Dallas, he recorded a goal and 13 assists for 14 points in 56 games with the Flames.

Through 14 NHL seasons, Tanev has 33 goals and 157 assists for 190 points in 792 career games with the Flames, Stars and Vancouver Canucks.