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Mark Scheifele delivered a historic performance Thursday night as the Winnipeg Jets demolished the Dallas Stars 8-3 on the road. Scheifele scored twice and added an assist, tying Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk’s all-time franchise points record at 929. The victory also extended Winnipeg’s winning streak to five games.
Scheifele Matches a Franchise Legend
The milestone carried extra meaning for Scheifele. The Jets were on their annual mentors trip, making the timing especially fitting. Hawerchuk was one of Scheifele’s most important hockey mentors throughout his career.
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“Words can’t really describe how it feels,” Scheifele said. “Just the amazing player that he was and what he meant to the city of Winnipeg and what he meant to me — it’s a pretty cool feeling.” Scheifele now needs one more point and two more goals to surpass Hawerchuk in both franchise records.
The Jets’ top line dominated throughout. Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi each had three-point nights, combining for nine points. Dawson Mercer scored twice for the second straight game, while Connor, Vilardi, Dylan Samberg, and Cole Koepke also found the net.
Five-Goal Second Period Turns the Game
Dallas opened the scoring inside four minutes and extended the lead to 2-0 before the first period ended. However, Winnipeg responded with a stunning five-goal second period that lasted just 19 minutes.
Samberg started the comeback with a sharp shot 71 seconds into the second. Scheifele then tied the game before Dallas briefly retook the lead. Mercer drew Winnipeg level again, and Scheifele completed his two-goal night with a power play one-timer to put the Jets ahead 4-3. Mercer added a fifth goal in the dying seconds of the period.
“We got on their defence, had good sticks and started moving the way we like to,” Scheifele said. “From there, we were able to create a lot. It was a great period.”
Connor made it 6-3 just a minute into the third. Vilardi and Koepke then added late goals to complete the rout. Goaltender Stuart Skinner earned the win with 30 saves.
Confidence Returning for Winnipeg
The Jets scored five goals in a single period for the first time since December 2024. The result also ended a five-game losing streak against Dallas in the regular season.
Head coach Scott Arniel pointed to a shift in mentality. “Over these last five games, the confidence is back,” he said. “When you’re not scoring and losing games, nobody wants to make a play. Right now we’re doing the opposite. We’re holding onto pucks and creating space.”
Meanwhile, the Jets also suffered a setback. Defenceman Dylan DeMelo left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. Arniel confirmed DeMelo will miss at least the next game and likely more, describing him as week-to-week.
Winnipeg will look to extend their winning streak to six games when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon.
