The Jets and Stars in a battle this evening in Dallas as both vie for top spot in the Central. With each team having four games remaining (including tonight) and with Winnipeg holding a four point edge (as well as the first tie breaker by one game) this is a critical game for both teams.
Winnipeg played an excellent game in Vegas last week winning there for the first time since January 1st, 2022 in what many saw as a springboard to a solid run to the post-season. They stumbled the next game in Utah where they didn’t look like the same team which resulted in a loss. And then they played a relentless game against the Blues on Monday in Winnipeg, against a St. Louis team that had won 12 straight but lost that night to a superior team.
Since these two teams last met in Manitoba (a game the Jets won which gave them a 10 point lead in the standings, although the Stars had two games in hand) the Stas were looking like a team that were going to be able to overcome the large deficit to give themselves a shot at top spot in the Central. Especially when you considered strength of schedule. However the last few games have seen them stumble rather than stride into this showdown for first place.
It began with a 3-2 lead at home to the Penguins on Saturday night which evaporated in part to a Sidney Crosby hat trick resulting in a 5-3 loss. They then flew to St. Paul the next day where they came back to force OT but lost in extra time and then Tuesday back home in one of the most improbable losses ever (b/c it had never happened before in NHL history) they held a 5-2 lead with one minute to go in the game which was erased in 53 seconds and the Canucks skated away with an OT win.
The standings look like this:
1. Winnipeg (110 points)
2. Dallas (106 points)
Jets lead by one when it comes to regulation wins. When you go to the next criteria for breaking a tie Winnipeg has a big edge of 52-48 for regulation plus overtime wins.
Which all adds up to what should be a fantastic hockey game tonight.
Potential Reinforcements:
We do know from an injury perspective that both Nikolaj Ehlers and Neal Pionk are expected to skate this morning in Dallas with the team. Yesterday head coach Scott Arniel indicated both players are considered game-time decisions.
Skate news:
As per Mike McIntyre a couple of guys look like they are returning to the lineup as he’s got Nikolaj Ehlers and Neal Pionk in based on line rushes although both will likely be listed by head coach Scott Arniel as game-time decisions. (Update: That’s exactly what he did as per Mike).
Jets projected lines & D pairs:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
Tanev-Barron-JAD
Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Stanley-Schenn
Hellebuyck
Stars projected lines & D pairs:
Robertson-Hintz-Rantanen
Marchment-Duchene-Granlund
Benn-Johnston-Bourque
Dadonov-Steel-Back
Lindell-Ceci
Harley-Lyubushkin
Bichsel-Dumba
Oettinger
Updated based on what Stars beat writer Mike Heika indicated following morning skate.
Up Next:
Puck drop is at 7 PM CDT. Be sure to head over to illegalcurve.com following the game for a recap of the action. Reminder that we are hosting an IC Watch Party at Boston Pizza on Taylor Avenue. If you join us you have a chance to win a fantastic prize from our friends at CCM Hockey. You can also join us on our YouTube channel for the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show around 9:40 PM CDT as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.
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