The Winnipeg Jets fall 3-1 to the Dallas Stars Sunday afternoon in a physical, tightly matchup contest. Both teams didn’t give up an inch with both netminders having stellar games with Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and Dallas’ Jake Oettinger both making 27 or more saves. It was a solid game from Stars forward Thomas Harley had a stellar game with a handful of scoring chances but dished the puck for a pair of assists.
The Jets started off the game being pushed around by a more aggressive Stars team that kept the puck in the opposing end for the first three minutes of the game. When Winnipeg managed their first lengthy possession in the Dallas end they made quick work of it. They get the puck in deep where they win the race to the puck and work it back to the blueline and during this time, Adam Lowry makes his presence felt by inserting himself in front of Oettinger and not letting a Stars defender move him out of the way.
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Lowry stands his ground and when Josh Morrissey takes a quick shot on net off his backfoot, he catches the Jets captain in front of the net and he redirects the puck with a quick tip, past Oettinger for the game’s first goal on their first shot on net. They didn’t record another shot for eight minutes as they were on their heels trying to defend as the Stars applied serious pressure after going on the power play and generating some scoring chances.
Things were fairly even with both sides finding chances but it wasn’t until Morrissey tried pinching on a play that we got a game-changing play. The Stars were looking to even things up and tried to work the puck up the boards and Morrissey comes down from the blueline to try and hold the line but it doesn’t succeed as Dallas goes the other way for a four-on-two chance.
The rush was more of one rather than two since Morrissey was trailing behind the bunch trying to catch up. The Stars are an elite offensive team and work the puck up into a two-on-one as Thomas Harley works an cross crease pass to Wyatt Johnston, who ties up the game with an easy tap in goal.
Winnipeg’s Morgan Barron came very close to getting the Jets the lead once again after coming close on a solo fastbreak on a penalty kill to end the first period but was unsuccesful working the puck through Oettinger’s five hole as the game remained tied after 20 minutes.
The Jets started off the second period by applying more pressure on the Stars, limiting them to just one shot on Hellebuyck in the first seven minutes of the period. It was a very tight second period with both sides struggling to land shots on net as the defences stepped up in a tie game that could go either way with one simple mistake. Some mistakes did arise when the Jets got a pair of penalties that gave the Stars a five-on-three chance that didn’t last long as Roope Hintz receives a holding the stick penalty.
It gives the Jets life as they kill both penalties and avoid making a costly mistake that resulted in a goal. Dallas ends the period strong with a couple of scoring chances after Morrissey receives a questionable slashing call but the Stars don’t capitalize.
The third period was very physical with shots being landed on net but neither team giving up an inch in terms of scoring chances. The Stars best chances arrives with Mason Marchment, who gets behind Morrissey and does his best to get off a clean shot and works a backhand in front of the net that catches Hellebuyck by surprise and goes high. Marchment scores the Stars second goal of the game and gives Dallas the 2-1 lead.
The Stars continue getting behind the Jets as Roope Hintz also get a wide-open breakaway chance but sails the puck over the net. The Jets pull their goalie in an attempt to try and even things up but Mark Scheifele hits the side of the net on a wide-open net. Hintz scores on the empty net with just seven seconds left and puts the game away.
It was a rough game for the Jets as the two goals allowed were both caused by costly mistakes that could’ve been avoided and will likely be looked at by the coaching staff afterwards. It’s been. a taxing road trip for the Jets as they’ve played just once at home in their last ten games but will finally get to return home to their fans Tuesday when they take on the St. Louis Blues.
