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The Winnipeg Jets’ losing streak extended to four games on Thursday night after falling 3-2 in overtime to the Dallas Stars. Despite taking a second-period lead, the Jets could not hold on late in the third period, allowing Dallas to tie the game before Roope Hintz delivered the overtime winner.
A Scoreless First Period Sets the Stage
Neither team scored during the opening 20 minutes. Dallas failed to convert on their only power play, while Winnipeg also came up empty during 3:50 of man-advantage time. The Stars also dominated possession, outshooting the Jets 12-6 in the first period.
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The game remained tight and cautious throughout the opening frame. However, the second period quickly changed the tone of the contest.
Jets Overcome Deficit to Take the Lead
Dallas struck first just 77 seconds into the second period. With a penalty pending against Winnipeg, the Stars pulled their goalie and found Wyatt Johnston wide open. Johnston beat a diving Stuart Skinner to give Dallas the early lead.
The Stars continued to press, outshooting the Jets 10-2 over the first nine minutes of the period. However, Winnipeg began to push back around the midway point. Brayden Yager earned a breakaway on a Dallas power play but Jake Oettinger denied him. That sequence seemed to spark a shift in the Jets’ energy.
About a minute later, Winnipeg tied the game. Alex Iafallo won a puck battle below the goal line in the Dallas zone and fed Dylan Samberg at the point. Samberg’s wrist shot hit Oettinger, who thought he had it covered. Instead, the puck sat on top of his pad. Gabriel Vilardi dug it out and slammed it home for his first goal of the season.
Less than two minutes after that, Winnipeg took their first lead of the night. Dallas botched a breakout attempt, and the puck landed on Neal Pionk’s stick at the left point. Pionk skated toward the middle and slid a pass across to Kyle Connor, who snapped it into the net for his ninth goal of the season.
As the period wound down, both teams created chances. Viggo Bjorck had a strong look for his first NHL goal but Oettinger turned him away. Meanwhile, Skinner made a sharp reflex save to pull a bouncing puck off the goal line in the final seconds. Dallas outshot Winnipeg 14-8 in the second period overall.
Dallas Ties Late Before Winning in Overtime
The third period was largely uneventful until the final minutes. Winnipeg held a 2-1 lead for most of the frame. However, an icing call with just under 2:30 remaining gave Dallas a faceoff in the offensive zone. The Stars pulled their goalie and drew level with exactly two minutes left.
Mikko Rantanen cycled the puck behind the Winnipeg net and spotted Roope Hintz cutting to the front. Rantanen passed to his fellow Finn, and Hintz finished cleanly to tie the game at 2-2.
Just 16 seconds later, Tyler Myers sent the puck over the glass in his own end. That gave Winnipeg a two-minute power play with a chance to win the game. However, the Jets could not generate a meaningful opportunity before the final horn sounded.
In overtime, both teams traded chances up and down the ice. Bjorck made a strong defensive play to deny Jason Robertson, which sparked an odd-man rush for Winnipeg. Instead of converting, Pionk’s wrist shot was blocked by Robertson. The puck went to the corner, where Miro Heiskanen retrieved it first.
Heiskanen sent a pass toward Hintz, who had space ahead of him. Hintz collected the puck, skated in alone on Skinner and fired a shot five-hole to end the game. Skinner stopped 35 shots in the loss, while Oettinger made just 17 saves to earn the win.
Jets Turn Attention to Heritage Classic
The Jets now return home to Winnipeg following their fourth consecutive defeat. Next up is the highly anticipated Heritage Classic on Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium. The outdoor game gives Winnipeg a chance to reset and end their skid in front of a home crowd.
