One win in their previous five games leaves the Winnipeg Jets needing more from their attack as they visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to St. Louis left Winnipeg searching for a way to turn possession into goals without giving away chances at the other end.

Dallas has won three straight, most recently beating Boston 3-2 in overtime on October 20. The Stars outshot the Bruins 25–20, and Winnipeg will need more than a territorial edge to halt that run.

Winnipeg outshot St. Louis 33-28 but managed just one goal. Getting pucks to the net is a starting point; getting bodies and the puck into more dangerous areas is the next step, rather than simply chasing a higher shot total.

For the Jets, the challenge is to create those chances without sacrificing support behind the puck. Sending everyone forward in search of a breakthrough risks giving Dallas opportunities in transition. Winnipeg needs traffic at the crease and options inside the defensive coverage, but also someone in position to recover loose pucks and protect against an exit.

Cole Perfetti supplied a useful example against St. Louis. Gabriel Vilardi found him alone in front, and Perfetti scored through the five-hole just 32 seconds into the third period to tie the game. Finding that space, rather than settling for another outside shot, is the sort of execution Winnipeg needs more often.

Kyle Connor has eight goals, 11 points, and 41 shots through nine games, while Perfetti has six goals, nine points, and 26 shots over the same span. Those two have given Winnipeg both production and shooting volume. The task is to complement that output with more chances from the supporting cast, rather than relying on the same finishers to solve every tight game.

Behind Connor and Perfetti, Mark Scheifele has eight points, and Neal Pionk has six. For Dallas, Mikko Rantanen has 11 points, Jason Robertson has nine, Miro Heiskanen has seven, and Roope Hintz has six. Heiskanen’s production is a reminder that Winnipeg’s coverage cannot stop with the forwards. The Jets need blue-line support while staying close enough to the puck to take away second chances around their own net.

Stuart Skinner is confirmed to start for Winnipeg and Jake Oettinger for Dallas, according to Daily Faceoff. Skater combinations are up to date on our line combinations page!

Jets defencemen Garrett Brown and Josh Morrissey are out with lower-body and upper-body injuries, respectively. Centre Vladislav Namestnikov is also out with an undisclosed injury.

Dallas forward Oskar Bäck is out with a finger injury, Matt Duchene with an abdominal injury, and Cameron Hughes with an upper-body injury. Defenceman Esa Lindell is out with a lower-body injury.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center in Dallas.