Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor (81) celebrates his first-period goal with teammates Mark Scheifele (55), Neal Pionk (4), and Dylan DeMelo (2) during their game against the Dallas Stars in Winnipeg on Friday, March 14, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
The Winnipeg Jets delivered a statement victory on Friday night, defeating the Dallas Stars 4-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre. The win not only solidified Winnipeg’s place atop the Western Conference but also extended their Central Division lead to 10 points over Dallas. With the victory, the Jets now stand at 46-17-4 with 96 points, while the Stars, at 42-21-2, have two games in hand.
Kyle Connor played a starring role, scoring twice and assisting on another goal. Winnipeg’s leading scorer, now with 35 goals and 84 points this season, remained humble despite the team’s strong position in the standings.
“We’re not comfortable with this lead,” Connor said. “We’re always looking ahead. There’s a lot of hockey left, and we want to be at our best when it matters most.”
Dylan Samberg and Morgan Barron also found the net for the Jets, while Mark Scheifele provided three assists. Connor Hellebuyck stood tall in goal, making 24 saves to secure Winnipeg’s second win in three meetings against Dallas this season. The final matchup between the two teams is set for April 10.
Mason Marchment scored the only goal for Dallas, breaking the shutout with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger managed 18 saves but couldn’t contain Winnipeg’s efficient attack.
Jets Set the Tone Early
Winnipeg wasted no time taking control, scoring twice in the opening period despite registering just six shots on goal. Samberg struck first at 8:01 with a shot that navigated through traffic and past Oettinger. Connor extended the lead to 2-0 with a powerful one-timer late in the first.
The Jets continued their dominance in the second period. Connor capitalized on a precise passing play with Josh Morrissey at 6:43, burying his second goal of the night to make it 3-0.
Barron put the game out of reach early in the third, deflecting a Dylan DeMelo shot past Oettinger to push the lead to 4-0.
Marchment’s late goal denied Hellebuyck a shutout, but it was little consolation for the Stars, who struggled to break through Winnipeg’s disciplined defence.
High Stakes, High Performance
Jets head coach Scott Arniel recognized the importance of the win.
“This was a huge game for us,” Arniel said. “If we lost, we’d only be six points ahead. Now we’re up by 10. The guys knew what was at stake, and they played at their best from the start.”
For Dallas, the loss was frustrating, as they failed to generate enough offensive pressure. Head coach Pete DeBoer acknowledged his team’s shortcomings.
“We weren’t tough enough in front of their net,” DeBoer said. “They defended well, and we didn’t make it hard on their goalie.”
With 15 games remaining, Connor stressed that every matchup carries weight.
“Every game from here is going to be big,” he said. “We played a great one tonight, but we have to keep building.”
The Jets now hit the road for a three-game trip, beginning with the Seattle Kraken on Sunday.
