Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars

Greetings from Dallas, where the Winnipeg Jets’ playoff hopes face another stiff test with the fourth and final meeting of the season series with the Stars.

The Jets have won consecutive games and took four of the past five to pull within striking distance of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Stars are in the midst of a rare swoon, with just two wins in the past nine outings (2-5-2) and dealing with several injuries to key cogs.

“Obviously, we’re pretty familiar with them,” said Jets forward Cole Pefetti. “It’s two good teams going at it. We always match up for a hard game. It’s going to be tight checking again tonight. We’re playing for our lives here, so we’re going to come out and play with that desperation.”

The Stars have won the first three meetings, with the last one going to overtime, where Thomas Harley delivered the winner, just like he did in Game 6 of the second-round series last spring to send Dallas to the Western Conference final.

“The first game of the year was obviously the one where they were a lot better,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel, referencing the 6-4 loss to the Stars in the home opener. “The last couple have been pretty tight. They’re still one of the elite teams in the league and obviously being in the Central, seeing these guys the last few years, they’re always good games.

“You have to make sure in this building that you’re ready to go. They come out, they can obviously score goals, but the big thing is they defend real well. Their analytics are real high in a lot of areas in them playing without the puck. You can’t be stubborn about things, you’re going to have to grind and work to get inside.”

The Stars are currently without a plethora of regulars, including top-line centre Roope Hintz, and fellow forwards Michael Bunting, Radek Faksa, Sam Steel, Nathan Bastian, Tyler Seguin (who has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury) and former Jets blue-liner Tyler Myers, who is on track to return to action this weekend.

As the Jets continue to battle for a wild-card berth, the Stars want to ensure they hold off the Minnesota Wild in the chase for second spot in the Central Division to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round.

The Stars are hungry to start getting back to playing winning hockey with the playoffs right around the corner.

“This is a team where we’re going to need our best because they’re playing great and they’re playing for their lives,” said Stars forward Matt Duchene. “We need to find a way to match their mental intensity. It’s a great little test for us and I know we get up to play these guys.

“They might make the playoffs and go on a run, they’re that kind of team. We’ve got to make sure that our game is where it needs to be.”

It’s an intriguing goalie matchup, as Connor Hellebuyck is set to make his 52nd start of the NHL season for the Jets, while the Stars counter with his U.S. Olympic teammate Jake Oettinger.

The Jets got some good news as forward Morgan Barron joined the group for the morning skate after being removed from concussion protocol.

Despite the positive results for the Jets, Barron’s absence has been felt, as he’s been a consistent performer and provided some important secondary scoring throughout the course of the campaign.

Barron replaces Danny Zhilkin in the lineup and returns to centre the fourth line with Isak Rosen and Parker Ford.

The Jets will also make one change on defence, with Haydn Fleury returning on the third pairing for Jacob Bryson.

Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan will go with 11 forwards and seven defencemen in this one, which means former Jets blue-liner Kyle Capobianco will return to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 4.

Thanks to a win for the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, they were able to leapfrog the Nashville Predators into the second-wild-card spot in the Western Conference, while the Jets sit two points behind the Kings, who face the Predators on Thursday night.

“(The Stars) play really well on both sides of the puck,” said Barron. “It’s going to require a good effort from us. We’re in a good spot here and this wild card chase just keeps getting tighter and tighter. Everyone is in a good space and is excited to play a good team.”

Here’s some additional information to get you ready for the matchup:

—Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe

Winnipeg's most read news source. 353,000 Adults Weekly.

FROM THE PRESS BOX

MIKE SAYS: Are we witnessing a slow-motion sequel to the Manitoba Miracle, one that is going to end with the Jets sneaking into the final wild-card spot in a season that included an 11-game losing streak and, at one point, an 11-point playoff deficit?

It sure is starting to feel that way, isn’t it?

But at the risk of raining on any potential parade, there’s no time for victory laps here. The Jets must keep winning, likely six or seven of their final eight, to still have a chance. Heck, maybe all eight. And tonight’s opponent might just be the toughest left on the schedule, so no time like the present to show they’re for real.

On one hand, the Jets might be catching the Stars at the right time, with just one win in the last seven (1-4-2). On the other hand, that likely means a Dallas team that will be hyper-focused on righting the ship, especially with Minnesota still within striking distance of potentially snatching home-ice advantage in their inevitable first-round playoff series.

I’m a little surprised to see Fleury back in the lineup, as I thought Bryson has done a nice job since coming back in. But I suspect Arniel wants a bit more size on the back end for what will likely be a rugged Central Division clash.

I honestly wonder what the Jets will do with Nino Niederreiter and Vlad Namestnikov, who appear on the cusp of being ready to play. The veteran forwards have been good soldiers for the organization, but both were in major slumps at the time they got hurt and were actively contributing to Winnipeg’s struggles. It’s likely not a coincidence the team has been playing a lot better since they injected some youth and speed and energy into the lineup. Are they really going to take out a Parker Ford, Brad Lambert and/or Isak Rosen to make room for the pair?

Niederreiter and Namestnikov are both signed for one more season, which adds another tricky layer to this. Bottom line: I’m glad I’m not the one having to make these decisions.

KEN SAYS: Finding a new superlative to describe the season for Jets’ top centre Mark Scheifele is becoming increasingly difficult. But thanks to a three-assist outing, the Jets centre moved to 92 points for the campaign as the quest to hit the century mark continues.

Scheifele’s pass to Kyle Connor for the overtime win in Chicago was a thing of beauty.

Scheifele made a tight turn in the neutral zone before going into attack mode. Even with Connor Bedard defending him hard, Scheifele found a passing lane and delivered a crisp feed onto the tape of Connor for the 14th OT winner of his NHL career.

Jets top centre Mark Scheifele is tied for seventh in NHL scoring. (Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press files)

“The way Mark works on his game every day in practice, scanning the ice, working on holding (the puck for) that extra second, forcing guys to come to him, draw them with his eyes, with his body, and then the control he has to put it right in the wheelhouse for KC,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry.

“It’s something we get to see every day. I think it goes a little unnoticed if you just watch him in games, but to see the effort, the work he puts in, and to see it paying off, he’s had an unbelievable year, all year, for us.”

Scheifele goes into Thursday’s action tied for seventh in NHL scoring with Martin Necas of the Colorado Avalanche and Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens.

Jets left-winger Cole Perfetti extended his point streak to five games on Tuesday, converting a pass from Alex Iafallo on a two-on-one rush for his 11th goal of the season.

Not only is Perfetti chipping in offensively, he has also increased his shot volume and has been more assertive with the puck on his stick. He clearly has the ability to be a 30-plus goal scorer down the road and his improved play has been massive for the Jets.

The return of Barron should help the Jets, especially in this type of heavy, Central Division matchup.

For the Stars, their two Olympic snubs continue to drive play, with Jason Robertson up to 40 goals and 89 points (good for 10th in NHL scoring) and Wyatt Johnston at 41 goals and 80 points through 75 games apiece.

They’ve been driving the offence, with Johnston continuing to be a force with the man-advantage, delivering a league-leading 25 goals on the power play.

Keep an eye on both of those Stars this evening, along with Mavrik Bourque, who was the American Hockey League Most Valuable Player during the 2023-24 season and is thriving in a middle-six role in Dallas this season (16 goals, 35 points).

PROJECTED LINES

WINNIPEG JETS

FORWARDS:

Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Lowry-Vilardi
Koepke-Toews-Lambert
Rosen-Barron-Ford

DEFENCE:

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Fleury-Salomonsson

GOAL:

Hellebuyck
Comrie

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Heinola, D Bryson

INJURED: D Miller (lower body), LW Niederreiter (lower body), F Namestnikov (lower body), Nyquist (undisclosed)

DALLAS STARS

FORWARDS:

Robertson–Johnston-Rantanen
Benn-Duchene-Blackwell
Back-Hryckowian-Bourque
Erne-Hyry

DEFENCE:

Heiskanen-Lindell
Harley-Lundkvist
Bichsel-Lyubushkin
Capobianco

GOAL:

Oettinger
DeSmith

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Petrovic, F Hughes

INJURED: D Myers (undisclosed), C Hintz (lower body), F Seguin (knee), LW Bunting (upper body), F Bastian (hand), F Steel (hip), C Faksa (lower body)

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey on the importance of a fourth-line goal in Tuesday’s victory over the Blackhawks:

“The way we have erased the deficit for the most part here has been because of everybody. Obviously, you need everyone to do their job and do it well and find their role and feel good about their role and be able to thrive in that and grow in it.

“We have had guys step up and we have had guys play their best hockey of the year and every night it has been a different group or a different line that has been contributing and it is not always on the scoresheet. So, that goal by those guys was awesome and, again, it takes everybody and that really lifts up the bench when you see those guys score like that.”