Stars’ Roope Hintz leaves game vs. Oilers after taking puck to face

It’s a good thing the Dallas Stars traded for Mikko Rantanen.

Second-leading scorer Roope Hintz left Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers after he was hit in the face by a puck.

The Stars later ruled him out with an upper-body injury.

In the middle of the second period, Hintz deflected a shot attempt at the point from Oilers forward Adam Henrique.

The puck shot right up and appeared to hit him under the visor. Hintz stayed down for a while, skated off alongside a trainer with a towel covering his right eye and went straight down the tunnel.

The 28-year-old Finn has 25 goals and 27 assists in 58 games on the season for Dallas.

If Hintz misses any time, his countryman Rantanen may need to take an ever bigger role than initially anticipated when he was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Hurricanes at Friday’s trade deadline.

Dallas’ next game is Sunday in Vancouver against the Canucks.