"He's not available yet, but the fact that he's taking this step, this is the first time back with a group of guys on the ice, that's important," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said.
Prior to Dallas' 3-2 win against the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 that tied the Western Conference First Round on Sunday, DeBeor said he was "optimistic we'll see (Pavelski) at some point."
Pavelski was placed in protocol Wednesday. He was injured with 7:58 remaining in the second period of Game 1 when he was checked by Wild defenseman Matt Dumba and then hit in the face by the stick of Wild forward Ryan Hartman.
Pavelski's head hit the ice when he fell, and he was helped off by teammate Mason Marchment and a trainer.
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Dumba was assessed a roughing minor. Minnesota won Game 1 3-2 in double overtime.
The 38-year-old skated on his own when the Stars were in Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 against the Wild. The Stars have been checking with him daily on his progression.
"When you're in concussion protocol, I think there are all kinds of steps you have to take and see how you react, right? The first one is light exercise, then a little heavier, then people around you then contact," DeBoer said. "He's doing all the right things."
The Stars will host the Wild in Game 5 of the best-of-7 series Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2, BSSW, BSNX, BSWIX).
Pavelski had 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists) in 82 regular-season games, finishing third in scoring on Dallas behind forward Jason Robertson (109 points; 46 goals, 63 assists) and forward Jamie Benn (78 points; 33 goals, 45 assists). He had 27 power-play points, including 13 goals, which tied Robertson and Benn for the Stars lead.
It wasn't the first time Pavelski has left a playoff game with a serious injury. He sustained a concussion when, as captain of the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round in 2019, he was cross-checked by Vegas Golden Knights forward Cody Eakin following a face-off and then run into by Golden Knights forward Paul Stastny, knocking an off-balance Pavelski to the ice. He hit his head and had to be helped to the dressing room.
Pavelski returned in Game 7 of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche that postseason, getting a goal and an assist to help the Sharks advance to the conference final, where they lost to the eventual Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games.
DeBoer was the coach of that Sharks team.
"Joe's had a head injury before and so he knows and he's a smart guy. I mean, he's not going to put himself in a situation where he's going to be in jeopardy and that's the last thing we want," DeBoer said. "So, we want to make sure he's in a good place before he comes back."
Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) has not resumed skating for the Wild. The forward left after one 19-second shift in the Wild's 5-1 win against the Stars in Game 3 on Friday. He had been out since blocking a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin on April 6.
"We're just going to evaluate as we go here. Likely the same situation as we were in before. It's just a matter of we'll wait and see," Wild coach Dean Evason said.
It's unknown if Eriksson Ek will travel to Dallas for Game 5.
"We'll chat here about whether same type of thing, if you leave him or bring him or what have you with recovering and all that stuff."
