 Nikolaj Ehlers (27) Dylan DeMelo (2) and Haydn Fleury (24) celebrate Ehlers goal in 1st period of G2 of R2 May 9 2025 (Winnipeg Jets Facebook).jpg)
The Winnipeg Jets responded with urgency in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series, taking an early lead and maintaining control throughout a 4–0 win over the Dallas Stars to even the series at one game apiece.
The Jets played much more like the Jets of the regular season, and that goes for Connor Hellebuyck as well. He would end up stopping 21 shots on his way to a shutout. It's his fourth playoff shutout of his career, and his first since 2021. Hellebuyck now has a record of 18-1-1 in the last 20 home games.
Josh Morrissey returned to the lineup and made an immediate impact, drawing a double minor for high-sticking just 17 seconds into the game.
On the ensuing power play, Morrissey picked up an assist as Gabe Vilardi jammed home a loose puck off a Nikolaj Ehlers shot at 3:35.
EARLY GOAL ✅
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 10, 2025
BARN BUZZING ✅ pic.twitter.com/pQam5yCEbz
Jets capitalize on early pressure
Winnipeg's pressure was a marked contrast from Game 1, where they didn’t record a shot until the 7:15 mark of the first period. This time, they had two goals before then.
The second came at 7:07, when Ehlers fired a pass toward Mark Scheifele, who was cutting across the front of the Dallas net. The puck deflected off Stars defenceman Esa Lindell’s skate and past Jake Oettinger to make it 2–0. Haydn Fleury and Scheifele picked up the assists.
Hey, we'll take it 😀😀😀 pic.twitter.com/OyrMQNap6M
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 10, 2025
The Jets continued their strong play into the second period and remained in control for much of the frame.
Captain Adam Lowry extended the lead to 3–0 at 11:02, roofing a puck that bounced off the end boards from a Dylan DeMelo shot. Nino Niederreiter also picked up an assist on the play.
THIS PLACE IS LOUDDDD 📢 pic.twitter.com/XvIJEaz1lC
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 10, 2025
'MVP' chants ring throughout the night
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivered a highlight-reel save late in the period, robbing Evgenii Dadonov with a full-stretch glove stop around 16:40 on a rebound from a Thomas Harley shot.
The Whiteout crowd erupted in “MVP” chants—one of several times they honoured the Vezina Trophy front-runner throughout the night.
THAT IS OTHER WORLDLY 😱 pic.twitter.com/r3iEH6QcfF
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 10, 2025
Dallas pushed back in the final minutes of the second, applying sustained pressure, but Hellebuyck stood tall and the Jets didn’t buckle.
Jets shut the door, keep Rantanen silent in third
After scoring a hat trick in each of his last two games, Rantanen was largely neutralized by the Jets' defence. Winnipeg held the dynamic forward to just one shot on goal all night (check official box score for confirmation), applying consistent pressure and denying him space. He was also a -2 on the night.
Dallas continued to press in the third and created several high-danger chances, but the Jets stayed composed and Hellebuyck remained unbeatable.
Ehlers sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 16:20, launching the puck nearly dead centre from deep in the Jets’ zone.
The only area of concern for Winnipeg was in the faceoff circle. At one point, the Jets had won just 22 per cent of draws. That improved slightly as the game went on, finishing at 42.9 per cent.
The Jets successfully killed all three penalties.
The series now shifts to Dallas for the next two games, with Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.