3 Talking Points as Winnipeg Jets Lose Heartbreaker to the Dallas Stars
The Winnipeg Jets lost an important game in the Wild Card race to the Dallas Stars. Here are three talking points from the Jets’ 4-3 defeat.
The Winnipeg Jets welcomed the Dallas Stars to the Canada Life Centre yesterday evening for an important game in the Western Conference Wild Card Race.
The Jets entered the game seven points behind the second wild card spot, while the Stars came in one point behind the two wild card leaders and knew that a win would propel them into either first or second in the race.
This game was extremely fun to watch regardless of what team you were rooting for. The teams traded goals and the game carried a playoff-like intensity.
Unfortunately for the Jets, the Stars got the last laugh as they won 4-3 in overtime and silenced the home supporters.
Here are three talking points from the Stars 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets:
3. Are we surprised this game went into overtime?
This game was the fourth and final time that the Jets and Stars would meet during the 2021-2022 regular season and there was a common theme in the first three games between these sides.
The common theme was that each of the three prior contests was that they could not be decided in regulation and needed overtime or a shootout to decide.
The Jets won the first contest between the sides in a shootout, but the Stars won the next two in three-on-three action.
I do not think anyone is surprised that last night’s game went the distance and went past the sixty minutes of regulation. Winnipeg and Dallas have matched up extremely well during this season and their matchups have made for some fantastic games to watch.
2. Jets Cannot Close the Game Out
The Jets entered the third period down 2-1, but they were playing well, and Braden Holtby was playing extremely well for the Stars.
Winnipeg did battle back and was able to equalize the game courtesy of Kyle Connor within two minutes of the final frame.
The Jets kept on battling and imposing their game on the Stars and were rewarded with the go-ahead goal and a terrific pass from Blake Wheeler that set up Paul Stastny for the goal.
The Jets were controlling the game and looked as if they were going to see out the game and leave the game with two crucial points.
But unfortunately, a defensive lapse led to the Stars tying up this contest. Dallas dumped the puck in on a one-on-three and was able to retrieve the puck. They then cycled the puck and worked it up to the point where Gurianov released a shot, with a screen in front of the Jets’ net, that beat Connor Hellebuyck.
I know that there was a potential cross-check in front of Hellebuyck that led to the screen and the goal, but if the Jets did not get beat on the forecheck by one player when they have three or four players back this play does not happen.
This was a winnable game for the Jets and their own lapses came back to bite. Winnipeg can ill-afford to lose late leads if they have any hopes of making the playoffs.
1. Jason Robertson Steals the Show
There is no argument that the twenty-two-year-old, Robertson is one of the top young players in the NHL and he has had the Jets number this year.
Heading into this game he had two goals in three games including scoring the overtime winner on February 11.
In the last and final game between Winnipeg and Dallas, Robertson stole the show and was the definite first star of the game.
Last night, Robertson had a hat trick and scored three out of the four Stars goals en route to their important win.
The overtime winner by Robertson was great to watch. He was at the end of a shift and the Stars were getting dominated in their own end, but Robertson was the first one to a loose puck and found enough energy to beat the Jets backcheckers to the net and then fired a great shot to end the game.
This was Robertson’s first NHL hat trick and his efforts provided the difference in this game.
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The Jets will look to put this tough loss behind them and get back into the win column when they host the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon at the Canada Life Centre.
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