Winnipeg Jets playoff hockey was back at Canada Life Centre tonight with game 2 of their round 2 series against the Dallas Stars. Game 1 saw the Stars hang on to a 3-2 victory thanks to a 2nd period hat trick from Mikko Rantanen. The Jets played a very solid 60 minutes in game 1, but it just wasn’t enough to get the job done. Tonight was the return to the lineup for Josh Morrissey, as he went back to his usual spot on the top defense pairing with Dylan DeMelo. The 3rd defense pairing looked different as well, as the Jets returned to a pairing they’ve used previously in the regular season, that being Haydn Fleury with Colin Miller. Tonight’s game started with the Jets looking like the team that wanted this game. It was the Jets that took a 2-0 lead early, and they extended their lead later on route to a 4-0 win at Canada Life Centre.

It’s rare that you see any penalties called in the first 2 or 3 minutes of a game, but that’s what happened tonight. Just 17 seconds into the game, Tyler Seguin was called for a double minor high sticking penalty against Josh Morrissey. This four minute powerplay was a great opportunity for the Jets to jump out to an early lead, and that’s exactly what they did. In the final minute of the double minor powerplay, on the Jets 5th shot of the goal, Josh Morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers set up Gabriel Vilardi in front for a rebound tap in to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.

A minute after the Jets opened the scoring, the Stars were sent on their 1st powerplay of the night. This time it was Josh Morrissey tripping Tyler Seguin. The Stars managed their 1st shot of the game on this powerplay, but the Jets penalty killers did a good job at limiting the Stars attack. 30 seconds after the Stars powerplay expired, Nikolaj Ehlers made it 2-0 Jets. Mark Scheifele and Haydn Fleury made nice passes to create spacing for Ehlers. Looking for Scheifele in front, Ehlers passed the puck towards the net, and it deflected off Esa Lindell and past Jake Oettinger.

The Jets continued to control the play for the rest of the 1st half of the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the Stars 9-2. With around 7 minutes left in the opening frame, Dylan DeMelo was sent to the box for high-sticking Tyler Seguin. The Stars powerplay went to work, and this one had more chances than the first but the score remained 2-0 Jets.

With 28 seconds left in the advantage, Jamie Benn tripped Adam Lowry, meaning the Jets would soon be back on the powerplay. The Jets powerplay had a couple opportunities, but the score was still 2-0 after this shortened advantage. After these most recent chances, the rest of the 1st period calmed down a bit, and the opening 20 minutes ended with the Jets outshooting the Stars 13-7 and leading 2-0.

The Jets opened the 2nd looking like the team in the lead. A few close chances almost made it 3-0 Jets within the first few minutes, but some unlucky bounces and good saves from Oettinger kept it 2-0. The Stars began their push to get back in this game, but Connor Hellebuyck came up with a pair of great highlight reel saves. With 9 minutes to play in the 2nd, Nino Niederretier found DeMelo at the point, who fired a shot on goal. The puck went wide and went off the back boards in front to Adam Lowry, who buried the puck into a half open net for his 4th of the playoffs.

Just a few minutes after the Jets made it 3-0, frustrations began to build up from the Stars. Lian Bichel, Alex Petrovic, Brandon Tanev and Morgan Barron were all called for off setting roughing penalties. Fast forward to 20 seconds left in the 2nd period, Mikko Rantanen high sticked Dylan Samberg, giving the Jets a chance to start the 3rd on the powerplay. The Stars would manage to lead the shots on goal in the 2nd 9-6, but the Jets continued to lead 3-0 going into the 2nd intermission.

Now with a 3 goal lead, the Jets were feeling somewhat comfortably in the lead, but you could tell they wanted more. The Jets powerplay went to 1/4 after only managing 1 shot on goal in their period opening powerplay. Just a few minutes after this penalty expired, the Jets got to go back on the powerplay when Lian Bichsel cross checked Vladislav Namestnikov. The Jets were looking to add to their 8 shots on goal total from their previous powerplays, and they did with 2 more on Oettinger but no goal.

Another pair of penalties were called with 9 minutes to play, as Thomas Harley was called for cross checking on Nikolaj Ehlers while a roughing call was assessed to Ehlers on the same play. The 4 on 4 went without many chances, and this game entered the final 6 minutes with the Jets still up 3-0. The Stars really wanted to get on the board, so they pulled their goalie with 4 1/2 minutes left, although Oettinger had to return shortly after due to an icing call.

The Stars pulled the goalie again shortly after, but just seconds after the Stars got set up, Ehlers picked up the puck off a rebound and fired the puck the length of the ice into the middle of the empty cage. With 2 goals and an assist, tonight was Ehlers’ 1st career 3 point playoff game. With 1:19 left Colin Miller was called for a cross check, giving the Stars a final late chance to get on the board. The final 79 seconds went without a shot on goal, and the Stars finished 0/3 on the powerplay with just 2 shots on goal. Shots in the 3rd were 6-5 Jets and overall 25-21 Jets as they tied the series at 1 with a very nice 4-0 win.

Tonight’s result was exactly what the Jets needed after a close game 1 loss. The whole team was clicking, and you could tell from early in the 1st that the Jets were determined to even this series. Connor Hellebuyck collected his 1st shutout of the playoffs, making 21 saves while looking composed throughout the night. Tonight’s 3 stars had to be Hellebuyck, Ehlers and Lowry, as each played their roles in getting this Jets win. We’ll see if the Jets make any tweaks to their lineup for game 3, but with how the team played tonight I wouldn’t be surprised if was left unchanged. This series now shifts to Dallas for the next 2 games, starting on Sunday afternoon, with puck drop for game 3 set for 3:30 pm CT.

Browse inventory, schedule a test drive and experience your dream Toyota today
at shoptoyota.ca