DALLAS — Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored both Carolina goals, the second coming 24 seconds after Dallas’ tying goal midway through the third period, as the Hurricanes beat the Stars 2-1 on Tuesday night. Kotkaniemi was credited with the second goal after the puck deflected off him near the crease from a shot by Sean Walker.

The Dallas Stars will return one of their top forwards to the lineup when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes at home Tuesday night. Stars coach Pete DeBoer announced Tuesday morning that center Roope Hintz is ready to return after suffering an upper-body injury a week ago against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Returning Tuesday

The Stars have earned points in four of their last five games against the Hurricanes at American Airlines Center (3-1-1). Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Dallas has a .533 point percentage against Carolina which ranks second in the NHL (min. 10 GP).

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (upper body) will return to the lineup on Tuesday against Carolina. Dallas has been without its first-line center for three games. Wyatt Johnstone deputized for Hintz in the role.

The Stars have had to make due without some of their top forwards early in the season, with Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin missing significant time. Dallas was dealt another blow on Jan. 14th when forward Roope Hintz went down with an upper-body injury.

Hintz (upper body) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Detroit, Brien Rea of FanDuel Sports Network Southwest reports. Hintz will be unavailable for a third consecutive game due to his upper-body injury,

He left the game after just fourt shifts and 2:27 of ice time. The Stars said their leading scorer is dealing with an upper body injury. With Hintz not on the bench, Wyatt Johnston is filling in for Dallas’ star forward on the top line.

Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz will not play in Thursday's game against the visiting Montreal Canadiens due to an upper-body injury.

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Trevor Zegras is expected to return from a torn meniscus in his right knee against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, SCRIPPS). The Ducks forward was injured late in the first period of a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 4.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored both Carolina goals, the second coming 24 seconds after Dallas’ tying goal midway through the third period.