The Dallas Stars in Manitoba on Wednesday for Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals. Both team earned massive comeback victories in Game Seven of their respective first-round series.
The Stars trailed the Colorado Avalanche, 2-0, in the third period. Mikko Rantanen saved the season, exploding for a hat trick and an assist. Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston (power play) scored the series-winning goal. The Stars prevailed, 4-2.
Somehow, the Jets pulled of an even more miraculous Game Seven comeback against the St. Louis Blues. The Blues led, 3-1, as time ticked down to the final two minutes of regulation. Vladislav Namestnikov cut the deficit to 3-2 with a 6-on-5 goal at 18:04. Scoring the latest game-tying goal in Game 7 history, Cole Perfetti forced OT at 19:57. In double-overtime, Adam Lowry deflected home the series winning goal.
Injury Report
Throughout the Colorado series, the Stars played without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen and sniping winger Jason Robertson. Meanwhile, the Jets played without top-line center Mark Scheifele in the clinching game against St. Louis. Additionally, blueline attrition forced the Jets to rotate five defenseman for most of the marathon night.
Scheifele skated in a non-contact jersey at the Jets’ practice on Tuesday. Likewise, defensemen Josh Morrissey and Logan Stanley participated in non-contact sweaters. Officially, all three are game day decisions. On the Dallas side, Robertson returned to practice and skated on Johnston’s line. Heiskanen is unavailable for the series opener.
Season Series
The Jets went 3-1-0 in the four-game season series with the Stars during the regular season. Winnipeg won all four home games during their first-round playoff series with the Blues. However, the Jets were 0-3 on the road. Winnipeg won the President’s Trophy during the regular season. The Jets were 30-7-4 at Canada Life Centre and 26-15-0 on the road.
Dallas posted a 22-16-3 road record during the regular season. They were 28-10-3 at American Airlines Center. Subsequently, the Stars were 3-1 at home in the first playoff round. They were 1-2 in the road games against Colorado.
Should be a cooker …💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻