Thursday night’s game between the Dallas Stars and visiting Winnipeg Jets is about more than just first place in the Central Division.
The Stars are seeking redemption after a historic loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Dallas allowed three goals in the final minute, before losing 6-5 in overtime on a shot by Kiefer Sherwood. The Canucks noted that no NHL team had ever given up three goals in the final 60 seconds of a game.
“It’s unacceptable,” said Stars captain Jamie Benn from a quiet locker room. “That game should have been wrapped up. We just have to find a way to get it done there … You have to play 60 minutes.”
Dallas is winless in its last three games, all featuring lost third-period leads. Coach Pete DeBoer hopes this slump won’t hurt their chance of having an earnest opportunity at still winning the division. The Stars (50-22-6, 106 points) trail the first-place Jets by four points with only four games remaining before the playoffs.
“We’ve got the biggest game of the year on Thursday night,” said DeBoer. “We’re still alive in that chase for (Winnipeg) which is what we wanted to make sure happened going into Thursday and we’re still right there. It’s going to be a great test of our character to see how we respond.”
The Jets (53-21-4, 110 points) are riding high after a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday, ending that team’s 12-game winning streak, all while holding them to only 15 shots. But coach Scott Arniel is keeping his club focused on the bigger picture.
“We’re still after something here. We’re still trying to get that division,” said Arniel. “It’s amazing that we’re at Game (78) and we still haven’t clinched the division. That’s how good our division is … Onto the next one and go down and do our business in Dallas.”
A battle between two of the top three teams in the NHL is just another challenge to build on heading into the postseason, according to Jets forward Kyle Connor.
“There’s a lot of good teams down the stretch. In the playoffs it’s going to be every night,” said Connor. “A couple times this year we win a big game and then the next night it’s not quite there, so that’s something that we’re working on … having that ability to look to the guy next to you and try to get … everything you can out of them and have all 23 guys leading.”
The Jets are facing several injuries. Nikolaj Ehlers has been a game-time decision the last two games but hasn’t suited up. Rasmus Kupari, Neal Pionk, and Colin Miller are day-to-day with various injuries. Gabriel Vilardi is expected to resume skating soon after an upper-body injury.
For the Stars, Tyler Seguin is nearing a return from a hip injury but hasn’t been cleared for contact. Miro Heiskanen is likely to miss the first round of the playoffs due to a knee injury.
