WINNIPEG – Connor Hellebuyck’s 22-save shutout and Nikolaj Ehler’s two-goal performance were more than enough for the Winnipeg Jets to defeat the Dallas Stars 4-0 in game five at Canada Life Centre Thursday night.
Game Story
The first period left fans on the edge of their seat as both teams got off to some hot breaks and nearly broke the deadlock early, but Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck shut the door for the opening 20 minutes.
The second period started far more physically than the first as both teams looked to score the opening goal. However, a big poke check save by Hellebuyck got the puck onto Kyle Connor’s stick made all the difference in who scored first.
Racing up the ice, Connor passed the puck to Pionk, who passed it back. Connor found Scheifele along the wall, and in an attempt to pass the puck to the middle of the ice, the puck would deflect off Thomas Harley’s skate and end up in the back of the net to give Winnipeg the 1-0 lead.
Dallas had a late-period penalty kill, which the Jets spent a majority of the time in the Stars’ zone, but Dallas looked to build off the momentum from a successful penalty kill.
After 40 minutes, the Jets had a 1-0 lead as they looked to avoid being eliminated on home ice for the second consecutive postseason.
The momentum the Stars built crumbled as Alex Petrovic was off to the penalty box for tripping just 1:39 into the third period. 11 seconds later, Esa Lindell took a tripping penalty of his own and giving the Jets’ quiet power play the ultimate chance at redemption.
The Jets, with a 5-on-3 power play for 1:49, redeemed themselves as they only took 30 seconds to strike. Nikolaj Ehlers picked up the puck at the goal line and shot it off the post and behind Jake Oettinger to make it a 2-0 game early in the third period.
Dallas killed off the tripping penalty to Lindell, but the Jets did not take their foot off the gas.
Tensions continued to heighten, and Liam Bischel would end up being hauled off to the penalty box for roughing. Like the Jets’ earlier goal, they added extra insurance as Vladislav Namestnikov wired a hard wrist shot goal from the top of the circle to make it a 3-0 game just past the halfway point in the third period.
Tempers continued to flare in Winnipeg as Stars captain Jamie Benn clocked Jets alternate captain Mark Scheifele well after the whistle. As penalties were sorted, Brandon Tanev and Benn both received roughing minors and misconducts while Scheifele received a roughing minor.
The Stars ended up with the power play after the entire sequence, and the Jets treated it like it was even strength as the Stars got minimal offensive zone time.
Trying to claw back into a 3-0 hockey game, Jake Oettinger was pulled in the final few minutes of the game, but with 45 seconds left on the clock, Ehlers potted his second goal of the game into the empty netter to send the capacity crowd at Canada Life Centre home with another 4-0 win this series.
What’s Next?
The Winnipeg Jets travel back to Dallas to face the Stars at American Airlines Center for game six on Saturday, May 17th, for game six of the Western Conference Semifinals. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm CST.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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