The Winnipeg Jets have once again fallen into a one-game deficit against the Dallas Stars, who defeated them by a 5-2 final score at the American Airlines Center in Sunday’s Game 3.
Winnipeg proved unable to capitalize on the momentum from their 4-0 shutout win in Game 2, and the struggles that have persisted for them away from home ice were once again present all afternoon long.
Jets Fail To Stand Tall in Game 5 Loss to Stars
The Jets took an early penalty in the first period, which Dallas immediately converted through a power-play goal from Roope Hintz. However, forward Kyle Connor knotted the score on a wrap-around goal midway through the opening frame.
The Stars retook a one-goal lead after defenseman Thomas Harley beat Connor Hellebuyck from the top of the slot. While the Jets managed to tie the score again in the second period with a tally from Nino Niederreiter, the third period belonged to the Stars.
Defenseman Alexander Petrovic scored his first goal of the playoffs, albeit in controversial fashion. His goal was allowed to count despite a long video review for what seemed like a kicking motion.
The scorching-hot Mikko Rantanen soon scored his ninth of the playoffs, and this was followed by another tally for the Stars from Wyatt Johnston, capping the scoring.
Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger finished with 23 saves on the 25 shots he faced, while Hellebuyck struggled again.
3 Jets Who Failed To Make a Mark Against the Stars in Game 5
1] Connor Hellebuyck
The Jets goaltender needs to figure things out in a hurry before his club’s season once again faces the grave danger of ending early.
Hellebuyck may have slammed the door shut on Dallas with a shutout in Game 2, but it was a familiar sight for Jets fans in Game 3 as they watched him surrender five goals on just 26 shots, for a subpar .808 save percentage.
Hellebuyck was yanked from the net multiple times in Winnipeg’s opening round series against the St. Louis Blues, and his performance in Game 3 against the Stars was well below expectations.
2] Mark Scheifele
Having recently returned from an injury, Scheifele’s presence provided an immediate boost for the Jets.
However, he was nowhere to be found for his club in Game 3. He finished with zero points and didn’t manage a single shot on goal. He was also guilty of committing a giveaway during the loss.
He’s one of many players who must step up if the Jets are to return to the Conference Final for the first time since 2018.
3] Neal Pionk
The usually reliable Jets defenseman picked a bad game to have a rough outing on the blue line as part of his team’s loss to the Stars in Game 3.
He was caught out of position multiple times, finishing with a team-worst -3 rating while also contributing nothing offensively despite managing two shots.