Jets need to bring ‘A' game into Dallas

Winnipeg Free Press

10-05-2025

DALLAS — It's the most important business trip of the year so far. Did the Winnipeg Jets remember to pack all the essentials?
Change of clothes? Check. Toothbrush? Check. Phone and charger? Check. Razor? Not necessary this time of year. The style of play that has made them a powerhouse on home ice, winning their first-round series and getting them right back into this second-round series? We're about to find out.
'It's going to be a tough building. They grabbed home ice from us by winning Game 1 so we're going to have to win down there,' Jets coach Scott Arniel said following Friday's 4-0 victory at Canada Life Centre in Game 2 which has now turned this best-of-seven into a best-of-five.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates a goal by Nikolaj Ehlers on Dallas Stars' goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during first period NHL playoff action in Winnipeg, Friday May 9, 2025.
Three of those contests are slated to be played inside American Airlines Center, with Game 3 set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. and Game 4 Tuesday at 7 p.m. We now know there will be Game 5 back in Winnipeg on Thursday night.
The Jets are 0-3 in enemy territory so far in these playoffs, have been completely outclassed during a trio of lopsided losses against the St. Louis Blues in which they were outscored 17-5. They managed to survive — just barely — by going a perfect 4-0 in their own backyard.
However, that series-opening 3-2 loss against the Stars on Wednesday night in downtown Winnipeg now means winning at least one on the road is a must if this magic carpet right is to continue.
'We know what it looks like and we know what it feels like,' Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said of his team's 'A' game, shortly after he pitched a 21-save shutout.
'That being said, we've got to wipe it and go play a hard road game. It's never easy on the road, especially at playoff time.'
No player has appeared more Jekyll and Hyde this spring based on where the puck is being dropped than Hellebuyck. He's stopped 119 of 132 shots he's faced for a .902 save percentage at home but has turned aside only 50 of 66 shots on the road (.758 save percentage) in being chased from all three games in St. Louis.
What did he learn from that series that he can now apply to Dallas?
'We wiped that one clean. We're moving on,' he said.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Dallas Stars' Mikko Rantanen (96) is pursued by Winnipeg Jets' Dylan Demelo (2) during first period NHL playoff action in Winnipeg, Friday May 9, 2025.
A short-term memory might be best in this case, but it sure feels like this might be another one of those mental hurdles Hellebuyck and the Jets need to get over.
'You know what, it's (about) lessons learned. Take some of the things from what we've talked about, what we've looked at from that series, and we know we have to do a lot of what we did (Friday),' said Arniel.
'This is a really good hockey team we're going against and they're… They'll be behind their fans in that building so we've got to play that type of game like we played (Friday).'
Hellebuyck sure looks a lot more comfortable and confident with his play and you get that sense in hearing him speak as well.
'We're still playing hockey and it's May. So, that's fun,' he said following his first playoff shutout in four years. 'It's the best time of year because you've dialed your game in all year long and you're just going out and playing hockey and having fun.'
DeBoer said the Hellebuyck they watched on Friday night is 'the guy we game planned for. He's a goalie that if he sees it, he'll stop it. We have to make it more difficult too, we play a part in that.'
Dallas was one of the better home teams during the regular season and went 3-1 in the first round against the Colorado Avalanche, including a dramatic third-period rally in Game 7.
'We have to respond. We've been a really good response team in my time here. We're at home. We know how well we play at home and the advantage our fans give us here,' said DeBoer.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates his goal against the Dallas Stars with Nikolaj Ehlers (27) and Kyle Connor (81) during first period NHL playoff action in Winnipeg, Friday May 9, 2025.
'We've got to come out at home on a quick turnaround, the quickest turnaround of the playoffs so far with an afternoon game (Sunday), and play a good game. I think there was some good stuff in that game that we can take, it wasn't all bad. I don't think the score was necessarily reflective of the entire game. So we've got to keep that and fix some things too.'
Something the Jets might not want to forget is that they won 26 road games during the regular season which led all NHL teams. One of those was a 4-0 victory in Dallas on April 10 which essentially wrapped up the Central Division, Western Conference and Presidents' Trophy in one impressive 60-minute effort.
Now, they're coming off another clean sheet against the Stars with even higher stakes.
'It's a game we can build off. There were a lot of good things out there,' said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey.
'Momentum in the playoffs is often in-game, I don't think it often carries over from game to game. We'll try to look at things we did well (Friday). It will be a whole different animal going on the road here. But definitely a lot we can build on. Obviously power play was great, penalty kill as well, goaltending. Lots we can build on and take to Dallas.'
One major development is that with Morrissey's return to the lineup on Friday, the Jets are now fully healthy for the first time since early March. Dallas, meanwhile, is still without top defenceman Miro Heiskanen who is recovering from a serious knee injury he suffered in late January. Stars coach Pete DeBoer told reporters on Saturday that Heiskanen will not return on Sunday. He wouldn't rule out Game 4 on Tuesday.
'Like we've talked about all year, we're focused on what we need to do to be successful. Obviously you get into the playoffs and you're facing the same team maybe seven times in a row, there's the chess match element. The changes from game to game,' said Morrissey.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
'But our number one focus is our own game and preparing to play the way that's made us successful this year. Regardless of the opponent there's a way we have to play and I thought we got to that a lot faster (Friday) to start the game and played that way for the majority of the night. So that's what we're focused on. What we can do to be at our best.'
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save on Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Winnipeg, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The teams will not hold a morning skate with the mid-afternoon puck drop, but don't expect any lineup changes for Winnipeg. The bigger question is which version of the Jets we're going to see?
'We're a good team. They're a good team. It's going to be a tight series every game,' said Jets forward Gabe Vilardi.
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Mike McIntyreReporter
Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
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