The Winnipeg Jets will aim to rebound tonight in Game 2 against the Dallas Stars after dropping Game 1 at home, falling 3–2 in regulation. It was their first playoff loss on home ice this postseason.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel didn’t mince words about the effort. He described it as feeling more like “Game 45 in the middle of December” than the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And honestly, he’s not wrong — the intensity we saw in Round 1 simply wasn’t there. “That did not feel like a playoff game,” Arniel said. “That felt like Game 45 in the middle of December.”

The game itself was fairly balanced. Both teams generated quality chances, and both goaltenders were strong. But for the Jets, two things need immediate attention: capitalizing on the power play and shutting down Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen torched the Jets with a natural hat trick in Game 1 — his second straight hat trick after also lighting it up in Game 7 against Colorado. Winnipeg’s power play had its opportunities but ultimately went 0-for-4.

Arniel stressed the importance of keeping tabs on Rantanen going forward: “Whenever you face elite players, you have to know where they are. Obviously, he’s feeling it coming off of Game 7. We’ve got to know when he’s on the ice. He’s a guy that you have to make sure especially you tie up that stick of his.”

Despite the loss, Connor Hellebuyck turned in arguably his best performance of the playoffs. Though his final stat line shows an .875 SV%, he made several key stops early, including a spectacular glove save on Mikael Granlund late in the game. The Jets will need more of that magic from Hellebuyck moving forward.

On the injury front, Josh Morrissey remains a game-time decision for tonight, according to Arniel.

Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi

Ehlers – Namestnikov – Perfetti

Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton

Tanev – Barron – Iafallo

Fleury – DeMelo

Samberg – Pionk

Miller – Schenn

Hellebuyck

Comrie

Granlund – Hintz – Rantanen

Benn – Duchene – Seguin

Robertson – Johnston – Marchment

Back – Steel – Dadonov

Harley – Lyubushkin

Lindell – Ceci

Bichsel – Petrovic

Oettinger

DeSmith