The Winnipeg Jets opened their 2025–26 season Thursday night at Canada Life Centre, welcoming the Dallas Stars for a Central Division showdown.

Before puck drop, the Jets unveiled their 2024–25 Central Division and Presidents’ Trophy banners, celebrating last season’s success. As the lights dimmed, each Jet skated out to introduce themselves to the home crowd. The loudest ovations came for hometown hero Jonathan Toews and star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, whose names drew thunderous cheers from the Winnipeg crowd.

Just 3:15 into the opening period, Mikko Rantanen silenced the crowd, burying a rebound from a Roope Hintz shot past Hellebuyck, who had strayed far from his crease.

The $96-million man, Kyle Connor, responded soon after. Taking a feed from Mark Scheifele, Connor wired a shot past Jake Oettinger to tie the game 1–1. The goal extended Connor’s remarkable streak to eight straight season-opening games with a goal, the longest such run in NHL history.

Dallas regained the lead late in the first when Nils Lundkvist walked into the slot unchecked and ripped a shot past Hellebuyck’s glove to make it 2–1.

Winnipeg ran into penalty trouble in the second period, taking three straight minors that bled into the third. The Stars capitalized early in the final frame when Jason Robertson scored on his own rebound just 1:01 in, extending the lead to 3–1. Only 34 seconds later, Tyler Seguin converted a perfect feed from Matt Duchene to give Dallas a three-goal cushion.

Wyatt Johnston added another to make it 5–1, as the Jets’ typically airtight defensive structure looked unusually shaky.

Down but not out, Winnipeg showed a late spark. Morgan Barron got the comeback started with a shorthanded breakaway goal, then Connor struck again moments later, collecting his own rebound off Oettinger’s pad to make it 5–3.

And then, who else but Kyle Connor? The sniper completed his hat trick in style, sending toques raining down from the crowd during the team’s toque giveaway night.

The Jets earned a late power play but couldn’t find the equalizer, ultimately falling 5–4 in their home opener.

Head coach Scott Arniel was blunt post-game about his team’s defensive lapses.

“If we’re better with our structure and our details, we’re not giving up those looks,” Arniel said.

“They scored three goals off entries. That’s not us. We don’t give up those plays with a guy who’s dead center in the middle of the ice getting chances. We have to work on that.”

Thursday’s game also marked the return of Jonathan Toews, who played his first regular-season game in over two years. The 37-year-old veteran had his parents, Bryan and Andrée, along with longtime Blackhawks teammate Patrick Sharp, in attendance. Toews came close to scoring in the second period after a perfect setup from Nikita Chibrikov but fired just wide.

“There were some situations where the three of us (Chibrikov and Nyquist) created and had some chances, even on the power play,” Toews said. “I was pretty close to making things happen, getting us on the board. There are some positives I’m excited about, just got to keep building on it.”

The Jets remain at home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon before heading east for a Thanksgiving Monday matinee in New York. Puck drop Saturday is set for 12:30 p.m. CDT on TSN3.