Stars Lose Human Shield Esa Lindell to Lower-Body Injury Ahead of Bruins Matchup

The Dallas Stars are going to have to find a new human shield for the week. Defenseman Esa Lindell has been officially ruled out of their upcoming matchup against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury.

According to Daily Faceoff, the veteran blueliner is sidelined after doing exactly what he always does. He reportedly suffered the injury while stepping in front of a puck during the Stars' recent 4-0 shutout win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

"Daily Faceoff reported: 'Stars’ Esa Lindell out against Bruins with lower-body injury'"

When your entire professional brand is built on absorbing frozen rubber at 90 miles per hour, the math eventually catches up to you. Lindell blocked 179 shots across 82 games last season, which is less of a hockey statistic and more of a medical marvel.

Missing Lindell is a massive headache for a Dallas team trying to hold down the fort. He is the undisputed anchor of their penalty kill, having led the entire NHL in short-handed ice time during the regular season last year.

The timing could not be worse for the Stars. The Bruins are rolling into town on October 21 fresh off a 4-1 dismantling of the Los Angeles Kings, and Boston's power play is not exactly something you want to face without your best defensive stopper.

Bettors looking at the under for this matchup might want to double-check the math now that Dallas is missing their premier shutdown guy. You cannot just replace a guy who eats heavy short-handed minutes with a backup and a prayer.

Head coach Pete DeBoer will have to shuffle his pairings to survive the week. Lindell is expected to miss roughly three to four games, leaving a massive, 6-foot-3 void on the Dallas blue line.

We will see how the Stars adjust when the puck drops against Boston. Until Lindell heals up, the rest of the Dallas roster is going to have to learn how to enjoy the feeling of a slap shot off the shin guards.