Game 29: Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars pre-game report

During the first month of the season, the Jets were jockeying with the Dallas Stars for second place in the Central Division while the Colorado Avalanche were running away from the rest of the pack. Since then, the Jets have plummeted, while Dallas — despite a string of significant injuries — has cemented itself as one of the league’s top teams.

The visitors come in with a record of 8-0-2 over their last ten games, winners of three straight, and sitting just three points back of Colorado for the NHL’s top spot. They’ve dropped only one game in regulation on the road (10-1-4) and hold a 16-point advantage over the Jets in the standings. With Winnipeg’s scoring drying up, their goal differential has fallen to even, while Dallas sits at a healthy +28.

Not long ago, the Jets had both their power play and penalty kill ranked sixth in the league. But what was, was, as my baba would say. They now sit 12th on the PP and 14th on the PK. Meanwhile, the Stars carry the league’s third-best power play and a top-10 penalty kill.

Skate news:

The only new face today is Haydn Fleury who has been cleared from concussion protocol. He didn’t skate yesterday due to illness. Which means a move should be forthcoming soon.

Jets projected lines & D pairs:

Connor – Scheifele – Iafallo
Niederreiter – Lowry – Vilardi
Perfetti – Namestnikov – Pearson
Toews – Barron – Koepke

Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Stanley – Schenn
Miller – Salomonsson

Comrie

Stars projected lines & D pairs:

Steel-Johnston-Rantanen
Robertson-Hintz-Benn
Bäck-Hryckowian-Bourque
Duchene-Faksa-Blackwell

Lindell-Heiskanen
Harley-Petrovic
Capobianco-Lundkvist

DeSmith

Players media availability:

Coach media availability:

Topics:
Dallas Stars are a tough team to play
Opportunity to change the narrative? (0:52)
What are you looking for in line changes? (1:34)
Stacking up against the Western Conference (2:40)
Scheifele and Connor split? (4:15)
Jonathan Toews and his ego (5:45)
Toews situation being one of one (7:22)
Gustav Nyquist on being scratched (8:14)
Defence rotation plan (8:32)
Benefit of Toews for playoffs (8:42)

Odds:

The Jets head into this matchup hoping to reset against a Dallas team whose recent form leaves little margin for error. Winnipeg will need a sharper night to disrupt the Stars’ groove, especially with Dallas continuing to handle tough spots with calm efficiency. Should the Jets find their footing quickly, this one could tighten — but the Stars arrive carrying the sort of momentum that tends to shape expectations. For the latest Winnipeg Jets hockey odds, visit NHL betting site Betway.

Up Next:

Puck drop is at 7 PM CST. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. You can join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 9:40 PM CST as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.