Familiar feeling when Jets, Stars do battle in Dallas

DALLAS – It felt like the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars jumped into a time machine — even the final result was eerily similar.

A 4-3 overtime loss by the visitors on Monday night was reminiscent of the last time these teams took to the ice inside American Airlines Center in May, though the stakes weren’t quite as high.

While the Stars are embroiled in a battle for second place in the Central Division, the Jets are essentially fighting for their playoff lives.

For the better part of three periods, this was a back-and-forth affair, as even as it gets.

A goal at 18:17 of the third period from Jets defenceman Logan Stanley with the extra attacker forced overtime, but Stars blue-liner Thomas Harley gave his team the victory in extra time — just like he did in Game 6 of the second round playoff series which ended Winnipeg’s Presidents’ Trophy winning season.

“Chances at both ends of the rink. Both goalies made good saves, and then it gets down to three on three,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “Kind of a tough way to end it. But, I liked how we stayed in it. We’re able to get one. Obviously, two is super critical for us at this point, but to see them score (to break the 2-2 tie), and us get one late to at least salvage a point. It’s at least a small positive for us.”

It was a wild finish that included a remarkable individual effort that made it 3-2 for the Stars before Stanley’s sharp-angle shot changed direction and went in with 1:43 to go in regulation, setting the stage for some more frantic action during the three-on-three session.

“Anything can happen in overtime,” said Stanley. “We get our best player (Mark Scheifele) on a breakaway, the goalie makes a great save. They make a really nice play and win the game. It’s obviously frustrating. We’re happy we got a point, but looking for two.”

The Jets, who finished the road trip at 2-1-1, slipped to 22-25-8 for the season. They have now lost eight consecutive games this year that have gone beyond regulation.

“It’s a game of inches and mistakes. We had chances all night,” said Stanley.

“Obviously we would have liked to win tonight and be 3-1 after the road trip. Five out of eight (points) is good but we’re desperate for points. We gotta win them all. So it stings. Usually you’re happy with a point at the end of a road trip in a tough building like this, but it stings for sure.”

The Jets had built a 2-1 advantage before Nils Lundqvist tied the game 2-2 at 15:13 of the second period.

“That was a game that was winnable,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We got sloppy with and without the puck, especially through the neutral zone. But, at the end of the day, we hung in there and had a pretty good third period.

“I know they scored that goal, but we found a way to get ourselves back at the end, having a chance to try to get two points. And at the end of the day you really hope to find a way to finish those off.”

Winnipeg now returns home to face the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday at Canada Life Centre in the final game before the Olympic break.

Here’s a look at what else transpired in this Central Division battle.

THE DUEL

One would imagine the coaching staff and management team was watching closely as Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck battled with Stars netminder Jake Oettinger.

Hellebuyck was the starting goalie for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February and there’s a good chance he will be starting the opening game in Italy, but the numbers for all three masked men on the roster (including Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins) are remarkably similar this season.

That means any chance to tip the scales in one’s favour can be a valuable opportunity to help your cause.

Both goalies were excellent in this game, turning aside 24 shots each. Oettinger’s best came during the three-on-three session as he stoned Mark Scheifele on a breakaway.

Oettinger relishes the opportunity to duel with Hellebuyck and is excited to be teammates once again later this week.

“I love when I get to play against the best in the league and he’s been that for a long time,” Oettinger told reporters. “Love getting to compete against the best guys in the world. He was great again. Always tight against (Winnipeg), you know you’re not going to get any freebies because of him.”

HEATING UP

The slow start for Cole Perfetti has been well documented, but after getting a little further along from the high ankle sprain that sidelined him late in the exhibition season, the Jets forward is heating up offensively of late.

By scoring a goal and adding an assist on Monday, Perfetti has four goals and 11 points in the past 17 games.

Perfetti’s goal came on the power play, where he was recently promoted back onto the top unit. That marker snapped a zero-for-14 drought for the Jets with the man-advantage.

Perfetti’s assist was a smart shot off the pad of Oettinger during a three-on-one rush that linemate Gabe Vilardi jumped on to bury the rebound.

Perfetti’s point totals (six goals, 18 points in 41 games) aren’t near the level he was hoping for going into the season, but his game is getting closer to how he looked during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he played a pivotal role in the Game 7 Manitoba Miracle victory over the St. Louis Blues.

“He’s playing with confidence, and that’s kind of the Cole you know,” said Arniel. “When he’s feeling really good about things, he makes plays. And he’s playing on the inside. He’s going to the hard areas to get that offense. And you know what, I just like his compete. When he does that good things happen.”

THE KEY PLAY

Harley’s overtime beauty was the difference.

THE THREE STARS

1. DAL RW Mikko Rantanen, Highlight-reel goal and an assist.

2. WPG LW Cole Perfetti, One goal, one assist.

3. DAL D Thomas Harley, Scored the OT winner, had four shots on goal.

THE REACTION

Arniel was more than happy to weigh in with some thoughts on the Stadium Series outdoor game played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Lightning won after they rallied from a 5-1 deficit to earn a 6-5 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins.

Strathclair product Morgan Geekie had two goals and an assist to help pace the Bruins attack, but the scrap between goalies Andrei Vasilevskiy and Swayman attracted quite a bit of attention.

“Oh yeah, that was one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time. Not just because it was outdoors,” said Arniel.

“With all the penalties, the comeback, it was fun, it was exciting. And now, it’s the latest and greatest thing, with goalies fighting. I really don’t want my goalie doing that. But at the end of the day, it was pretty entertaining and I’m pretty sure the (hockey) nation was excited about watching that.”

One thing Arniel won’t be doing when the Jets host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic next October is sporting a flashy white suit with a buttoned-down dress shirt and gold chains like Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was rocking on Sunday in Florida.

“No, I’m not going to dress like Coop. No chance,” said Arniel. “I’m going to be in a jacket or a heavy fur coat or something.”

YOU LOOK FAMILIAR

Former Jets defenceman Kyle Capobianco is enjoying a solid season with the Dallas Stars, thanks in part to his skating ability and offensive instincts.

Capobianco, who spent parts of two seasons in the Jets organization and appeared in 14 games with the Jets and 69 more with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League, suited up in his 30th game of the campaign with the Stars on Monday.

Capobianco has two goals and five points while averaging just over 12 minutes per game and even got some time on the power play earlier this season.

“He’s impressed me,” said Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan. “At times, when we’ve had lots of guys out for periods of time, he came in on the back end and played and he created offence for us. He actually helped us move the puck and get us into the other team’s zone and made some big plays for us. I thought that our team, when he played, was much better offensively, with the way that he could drive play to the other end.

“Our system in the D-zone is helpful to him too. He’s been a surprise for me. He helps our group.”

Capobianco signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Stars in the summer of 2024 for US $775,000 to be a depth defenceman and he’s providing some nice value.

EXTRA, EXTRA

The Jets survived a two-man disadvantage during the second period that lasted 74 seconds. Considering how lethal the Stars power play has been (first on home ice and second in the NHL overall) this season, surviving that session played a big role in the final outcome.

The special teams battle was even at 1-1 as Stars winger Jason Robertson scored with the man-advantage to tie the game during the second period.

The Jets healthy scratches were defenceman Isaak Phillips and forward Tanner Pearson.

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