12-05-2025
Finding another gear against the Stars
DALLAS — It appears the NHL won't be offering up any further explanation for a pair of head-scratching decisions that had the Winnipeg Jets seeing red.
The first involved Dallas defenceman Alex Petrovic's controversial game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon, where the league had an interesting interpretation of its own rule which says a player can't kick a puck off a goaltender into the net.
After a marathon review, referees ultimately determined Connor Hellebuyck scored on himself while trying to make a play with the puck and that Petrovic's prior kicking action didn't ultimately matter. The Jets protested to no avail, and the incident actually made its way into the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba on Monday.
'I would be remiss if I didn't announce that today is the first-ever international 'You Can't Kick The Puck Into The Net Awareness Day,'' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said to a chorus of laughter and cheers from his peers.
Julio Cortez / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has yet to backstop the Jets to a win on the road during this season's playoffs so far.
Julio Cortez / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has yet to backstop the Jets to a win on the road during this season's playoffs so far.
The other incident occurred at the end of the second period, when Stars forward Mason Marchment clearly struck the shin pads of referee Graham Skilliter. Marchment was upset at what he thought was a slash from Winnipeg centre Mark Scheifele that had been missed.
Rule 40.1 states that, 'Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official, in any manner attempts to injure an official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty.'
Yet no action was taken against Marchment, and no follow-up occurred on Monday by the league. Skilliter didn't write up an abuse of officials report and the league was seemingly content to take a no harm, no foul approach.
That would appear to be a very slippery slope, considering Marchment obviously did it out of anger. This was no accident. A source tells the Free Press Skilliter was mic'd up for the game as well, so the NHL would have the full audio of what transpired.
'I already had my comment about the league and the goal and all that, so I'm staying out of that one,' Jets head coach Scott Arniel said Monday when asked about the incident.
Whether it's their Jekyll and Hyde play between home and the road or Connor Hellebuyck's well-documented playoff struggles, the Jets are quite a puzzle these days.
You can add the state of the power play to the pile as well. How does the team that led the NHL during the season with a 28.9 per cent efficiency now sit dead-last among remaining playoff teams at just 17.1 per cent — including one-for-13 so far in the first three games against Dallas?
'Obviously you're looking for goals, you're looking for results on the power play, but then you're also looking for momentum, and if you're not scoring, are you able to create chances?' said defenceman Josh Morrissey, who quarterbacks the top unit.
'I think we've done some good things. Obviously, Dallas is a very good penalty killing team, but we need to continue to make adjustments, continue to be sharper, and try and be a difference maker beyond just momentum, but actually putting up results. So (a) lot of confidence in our plan, and the guys on the ice, on both units, so just got to stick with it. And find another level of execution.'
Julio Cortez / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dallas' Mason Marchment was not called for slashing referee Graham Skilliter on Sunday. The Stars foward was upset at what he thought was a slash from Winnipeg Jets' centre Mark Scheifele (second left).
Julio Cortez / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dallas' Mason Marchment was not called for slashing referee Graham Skilliter on Sunday. The Stars foward was upset at what he thought was a slash from Winnipeg Jets' centre Mark Scheifele (second left).
Morrissey, Mark Scheifele, Gabe Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers — four of the five players on the top unit — have all missed games so far these playoffs with injuries, which doesn't help the cohesion. But they're all healthy now, and finding a way to make Dallas pay for their on-ice sins would be a huge development.
'They certainly did a good job with our No. 1 unit kind of slowing us up, not allowing us in with possession. I thought our second unit did a real good job of getting in so we'll look at some things,' Arniel said of trying to make adjustments to an aggressive Stars penalty kill.
It's noteworthy that Scheifele and Vilardi hit the ice on Monday to work on some net-front passing and tipping drills while the majority of their teammates took the option and stayed off their skates.
'Those are two guys that don't miss many optionals, so unless it's tough travel, especially Mark, he likes to be on the ice and touch pucks and Gabe is the same way,' said Arniel.
'They don't really overload it. They go out and handle pucks and kind of stickhandle around and maybe take some shots.'
The Jets and Stars have seen plenty of each other this year, with four regular-season meetings now followed by a best-of-seven playoff series.
Arniel was asked by a Dallas scribe on Monday if he's seeing a different-looking opponent these days.
'Yeah, some guy named Rantanen over there,' Arniel joked about the trade deadline addition who has made a huge difference.
Rantanen had three goals in the Game 1 victory over Winnipeg, then a goal and two helpers in Sunday's triumph. The Jets did keep him off the board, along with all of his teammates, in Friday's Game 2 victory.
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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.
'You know what, I know Pete (DeBoer's) system, we've been in the Central Division and we butt heads a lot. Two teams that match up quite similarly,' said Arniel.
'I think the adjustments do happen game to game. We made some adjustments after one, they made some adjustments after two, and we're going to have to make some adjustments after that night. That's just part of the game within the game. I think that's one thing we see in playoffs. In all the series going on right now, you can't just stay status quo. It's a case of us making sure we're ready.'
Morrissey was otherwise occupied on Sunday afternoon but heard second-hand that an old friend was weighing in on the action unfolding at American Airlines Center.
That would be former Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who was a guest panelist on the Sportsnet broadcast of the Jets vs. Stars game.
'You know what? I was trying to look online last night to see him up there but I couldn't really find anything,' Morrissey said of trying to find video after the fact.
Former Jets captain Blake Wheeler, right, appears on the Sportsnet broadcast of the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars game as a commentator, Sunday.
Former Jets captain Blake Wheeler, right, appears on the Sportsnet broadcast of the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars game as a commentator, Sunday.
'I texted with him a little bit. He said he really enjoyed it, and yeah. He's definitely a very smart hockey guy. The way he saw the game, the way that he was able to make plays throughout his entire career, I think that bodes well for somebody watching the game from his vision and standpoint. He said he had a good time with it and I'm sure he was great.'
X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg
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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