After grinding out a gritty 2-1 comeback win in Sunrise, the Winnipeg Jets are looking to close out their four-game road swing on a high note tonight in Dallas. With two wins already in the bag - one over the Devils and the other against the Panthers - the Jets have guaranteed at least a split on the trip. But with the Olympic break looming and playoff pressure building, they’ll want more than just “good enough.”
Saturday’s win over Florida wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of game that can spark something deeper. Down 1-0 heading into the third, Winnipeg found the extra gear.
Cole Perfetti got the comeback rolling with a tying goal midway through the final frame - his fifth of the season - and then it was Mark Scheifele, doing what he does best, finishing off a slick passing sequence from Kyle Connor and Gustav Nyquist to bury the game-winner. That was Scheifele’s 27th of the year, and it came at a moment when the Jets needed a spark.
Meanwhile, Eric Comrie stood tall in net, stopping 27 shots and securing his third straight win. Not bad for a guy who’s had to battle for every crease he’s gotten this year. He was composed, confident, and gave Winnipeg the chance to come back.
“It’s hopefully huge for momentum,” Perfetti said postgame. “The guys are feeling really good right now, and obviously we’re going into Dallas, who’s another tough building and a division rival, so it’s going to be a good test for us.”
He’s not wrong - Dallas is no easy out. The Stars are coming in hot, riding a four-game win streak after edging the Utah Mammoth 3-2 on Saturday.
Thomas Harley, Wyatt Johnston, and Matt Duchene all found the scoresheet, with two of those goals coming on the man advantage. Casey DeSmith didn’t face a ton of rubber, but he did enough to secure the win.
The Stars are just one point behind Minnesota for second place in the Central Division, and they’ve already gotten the better of the Jets twice this season - both one-goal decisions, 5-4 back in October and 4-3 in December. Winnipeg knows how close those games were. They also know they can’t afford to let another one slip away.
The Jets currently sit nine points back of the final wild-card spot, held by the Los Angeles Kings. That’s a steep hill to climb, but it’s not impossible - especially if they can string together wins heading into the break.
Tonight’s matchup is more than just another road game. It’s a chance to build on momentum, gain ground in the standings, and maybe, just maybe, start turning the tide.
They’ll hit the ice for a morning skate in Dallas, where we’ll get a better sense of whether head coach Scott Arniel plans to stick with the same lineup that got the job done in Florida. No word yet on who gets the start in goal, but with Hellebuyck and Comrie both available, Arniel has options.
Projected Lines:
Forwards:
- Connor - Scheifele - Iafallo
- Perfetti - Lowry - Vilardi
- Niederreiter - Toews - Namestnikov
- Koepke - Barron - Nyquist
Defense:
- Morrissey - DeMelo
- Samberg - Salomonsson
- Stanley - Schenn
Goaltenders:
- Hellebuyck
- Comrie
Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. CST on TSN3. The stage is set for a Central Division clash with playoff implications - and the Jets have a real opportunity to make a statement.