The Jets’ latest surge kept rolling in Dallas, and it did so in a big way. What looked shaky after one period turned into a statement night, with Winnipeg erasing a 2-0 deficit and storming past the Stars 8-3 to stretch its winning streak to five games. Along the way, the club also carved out a bit of franchise history.
The first period gave Winnipeg plenty to worry about. Dylan DeMelo went down for the game, and the team later learned he is week-to-week. But the game flipped in the middle frame, when the Jets piled up five goals against Jake Oettinger, then tacked on three more in the third to put the result beyond doubt.
Now the focus shifts to Chicago, where the Jets are scheduled to practice at 1:30 PM CDT. A Practice Report is expected to follow.
There’s also movement to track on the roster front. Winnipeg will need a recall to fill the DeMelo spot, with Henry Thrun looking like the likely option. The club is also monitoring a few day-to-day players, including Walker Duehr, Noah Gregor and Colby Barlow, to see whether any of them are ready to return.
Meanwhile, the Moose are in Illinois as well, but their business is in Rosemont. They’ll face the IceHogs after opening their five-game road trip with a split against the Stars in Texas. Puck drop is set for 8 PM CT.
On the media side, the Winnipeg Free Press noted that moving to the wing “really reduced his pressure and was just what he needed as an 18-year old.”
In Other News...
Stars Just Got A Painful Reminder About Dawson Mercer
Dawson Mercer is wasting no time making his mark in Winnipeg. Since arriving from the New Jersey Devils, the 22-year-old has settled into the second line and power-play unit, and his early production has fit neatly into the Jets recent winning streak. Five goals and three assists in his first 10 games is the kind of start that changes the tone of a trade quickly, especially for a team looking for more punch in the middle of the lineup.
Scott Arniel has already pointed to Mercers growing confidence and comfort with his new surroundings, and it shows in the way he has been able to jump right into meaningful minutes. For Winnipeg, it is another reminder that the move is paying off in a hurry. For everyone else, especially teams that thought they knew what Mercer was, the early returns are a little harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Changed A Key Part Of Dallas Blue Line
The Jets left Dallas with more than just a result on the scoreboard, as one collision in that game has now altered the Stars blue line for the next stretch. Defenseman Lian Bichsel is expected to miss about two weeks with a lower-body injury, and head coach Glen Gulutzan said the rookie is week-to-week after getting hurt against Winnipeg.
Bichsel had been a steady presence for Dallas, appearing in every one of the clubs first 18 games before the injury. For the Jets, it is another reminder that their physical style can leave a mark beyond the final horn, while for the Stars it creates an early test of depth on defense as they wait for one of their regulars to get back. [Read more 🡒]
Former Jet Johnathan Kovacevic Suddenly Has A New Health Concern
Johnathan Kovacevics season has taken another turn after the Devils placed the former Jet on injured reserve because of an ankle injury. The defenseman was hurt in a game against Winnipeg, adding a fresh setback to a return that had already been slowed by his recovery from knee surgery.
New Jersey filled the roster spot by recalling Anton Silaev from Utica, where the recent first-round pick has played 12 games this season. For the Jets, it is another reminder of a familiar face running into more health trouble, and for the Devils it leaves their blue line juggling yet another moving piece while Kovacevic works his way back. [Read more 🡒]