by The Winnipeg Jets lost 3-1 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon in a physical and close game. Both teams didn’t give up an inch, with both goaltenders having outstanding 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 who had an outstanding game with a few scoring chances, but distributed the puck for two assists.
The Jets started the game being pushed around by a more aggressive Stars team who kept the puck in the opposing camp for the first three minutes of the game. When Winnipeg got their first long possession on the Dallas side, they did it quickly. They put the puck deep where they win the race to the puck and bring it back to the blue line and meanwhile Adam Lowry makes his presence felt by slotting in front of Oettinger and not letting a Stars defender move him out of the area. path.
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Lowry holds on and when Josh Morrissey takes a quick shot at the net on his back foot, he catches the Jets captain in front of the net and he redirects the puck with a quick tip, past Oettinger for the first goal of the game on their first shot . net. They didn’t register another shot for eight minutes as they were on their heels trying to defend as the Stars applied serious pressure after going on a power play and generating a few scoring chances.
Things were pretty even with both teams finding chances, but it wasn’t until Morrissey tried to pinch play that we got a game-changing play. The Stars were looking to even things up and tried to get the puck up the boards and Morrissey comes down from the blue line to try and hold the line but it doesn’t work as Dallas goes the other way for a four to two odds. .
The race was more of a one than a two as Morrissey was trailing the pack trying to catch up. The Stars were an elite offensive team and worked the puck two-on-one as Thomas Harley completed a cross-court pass into Wyatt Johnston’s territory, who tied the game with an easy shot into the goal.
Winnipeg’s Morgan Barron came close to putting the Jets ahead once again after coming close with a quick solo penalty kill to end the first period, but couldn’t put it past the puck into Oettinger’s fifth hole while the match remained tied after 20 minutes.
The Jets started the second period putting 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 half, with both teams struggling to get shots on goal as defenses stepped up their action in a tie that could go either way with a simple mistake. Some mistakes were made when the Jets took two penalties that gave the Stars a five-on-three chance that didn’t last long as Roope Hintz received a penalty for holding the stick.
This gives the Jets some life as they kill both penalties and avoid making a costly mistake that resulted in a goal. Dallas finished the period strong with a few scoring chances after Morrissey took a questionable slashing hit, but the Stars didn’t take advantage.
The third period was very physical with shots on goal, but neither team gave up an inch in terms of scoring chances. The Stars’ best chances come with Mason Marchment, who gets behind Morrissey and does his best to get a clean shot and takes a backhand in front of the net that surprises Hellebuyck and goes high. Marchment scores the Stars’ second goal of the game to give Dallas a 2-1 lead.
The Stars continue to get behind the Jets as Roope Hintz also gets a big breakaway chance, but sends the puck over the net. The Jets pull their goaltender to try to tie things up, but Mark Scheifele hits the side of the net on a wide open net. Hintz scores into an empty net with just seven seconds left to put the game away.
It was a tough game for the Jets, as the two goals allowed were both caused by costly mistakes that could have been avoided and will likely be looked at by the coaching staff afterward. It was. A grueling road trip for the Jets as they have only played at home once in their last ten games, but they will finally get to return home to their fans on Tuesday when they take on the St. Louis.
