Stars Rely on Heavy Minutes to Beat Jets 3-2 in Overtime

The Dallas Stars avoided a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night at American Airlines Center. The final score was 3-2, a result determined by a single breakaway goal in the extra period.

Miro Heiskanen did not record a goal. However, his assist decided the contest. Jason Robertson blocked a Winnipeg scoring attempt in overtime. Heiskanen immediately sent Roope Hintz toward the empty net. Hintz scored at 3:47 of the extra time to secure the victory.

The sequence relied on a defensive stop. Heiska reported that a Robertson turnover initially created the Winnipeg chance. Robertson then blocked the shot. The team turned that defensive effort into an offensive opportunity. The pass changed the possession from a recovery to an attack.

Heiskanen played a heavy workload for the night. Esa Lindell was scratched from the lineup. Heiskanen logged 29 minutes and 20 seconds of ice time. Thomas Harley followed with 28:27. The next Dallas defender, Lian Bichsel, played 17:47. Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Myers, and Kyle Capobianco also saw time on the ice.

The Stars trailed for much of the game. Johnston scored early in the second period. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor later put Winnipeg ahead. Dallas stayed behind until Hintz scored a six-on-five power-play goal. That strike tied the game with two minutes left in regulation.

The box score showed Dallas controlling the play. The Stars outshot Winnipeg 38-19. Connor Hellebuyck was not named, but the source notes Skinner made 35 saves. The goaltender forced the Stars to work for every goal. Heiskanen finished with five shots, one block, and the winning assist. Harley also went without a goal.

Lindell’s absence did not have a set return date. The game did not reveal a new permanent rotation. The team relied on its top two defensemen to cover the gaps for one night.