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A controversial goal early in the third period proved to be the turning point Sunday afternoon as the Dallas Stars defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5–2 in Game 3 of their second-round series.
With the score tied 2–2, Dallas defenceman Alexander Petrovic appeared to direct the puck into the net with a kicking motion just 3:51 into the period.
After a lengthy review with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto, the goal was upheld, with officials ruling the puck had deflected off Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s stick rather than being propelled by Petrovic’s skate. Less than a minute later, the Stars struck again to take full control of the game and the series.
Early penalties cost Jets
Early penalties and continued faceoff struggles put the Jets on the back foot through 20 minutes.
The Jets were forced to kill a penalty just 22 seconds into the game after Nino Niederreiter was called for high-sticking. That early disadvantage turned into a brief 5-on-3 for Dallas when Josh Morrissey was whistled for tripping at 2:17.
The Stars capitalized seconds later, as Roope Hintz buried a power-play goal at 2:27—his fifth of the postseason—on what was also the first shot of the game. It marked the fourth time in 10 playoff games this year that Connor Hellebuyck has allowed a goal on the first shot he’s faced.
Winnipeg’s struggles in the faceoff circle continued, losing 11 straight draws to start the game and winning just one of their first 12.
Kyle Connor tied things up midway through the period, collecting his first point of the series on a wraparound goal at the side of the net. Gabe Vilardi earned the lone assist.
Kyle Connor doing Kyle Connor things 💪 pic.twitter.com/AyXpBs5IqL
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 11, 2025
But the Stars regained the lead late in the period, with defenceman Thomas Harley beating Hellebuyck with a wrist shot at 15:12.
Dallas outshot Winnipeg 10-6 in the opening frame.
Niederreiter ties it up, Hellebuyck holds firm
The first half of the second period saw limited chances for either side, but Winnipeg finally broke through at 10:07.
Josh Morrissey held the puck at the blue line, froze Colin Blackwell with a slick fake, and threaded a pass down low to Nino Niederreiter, who made no mistake. It was Niederreiter’s fourth goal of the playoffs, with Colin Miller picking up the secondary assist.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 11, 2025
JOSH MORRISSEY HAS ARRIVED. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/0H6aw4LhKN
Connor Hellebuyck made one of his biggest stops of the game late in the period, flashing the glove to rob Connor Ceci at 14:21 and preserve the 2–2 tie.
Controversial goal opens the floodgates
Dallas went ahead 3–2 just 3:51 into the final frame when a puck deflected off Alexander Petrovic’s skate and into the net. The play was closely reviewed by the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto, as it initially appeared that Petrovic had made a distinct kicking motion. However, officials determined the puck went off Connor Hellebuyck’s stick and allowed the goal to stand.
The Stars struck again less than a minute later. Mikko Rantanen fired a quick snapshot from the slot at 4:40 to notch his ninth goal of the playoffs, giving Dallas a two-goal cushion.
Jets head coach Scott Arniel called a timeout to regroup, and Winnipeg responded with some pressure but were unable to solve Jake Oettinger.
Dallas added insurance at 14:05 when Wyatt Johnston pounced on a rebound during a scramble in front of Hellebuyck to make it 5–2.
The Jets couldn’t generate any offence in the final minutes, even with the extra attacker on the ice. Rantanen finished the night with three points against the Jets and will remain one of the top concerns for the Jets in Game 4.
One positive for Winnipeg came in the faceoff circle, where they rebounded from a rough start to finish with a 51.9 per cent win rate.
Game 4 goes Tuesday night in Dallas at 7 p.m. CT. The series shifts back to Winnipeg for Game 5 on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
We’re taking you LIVE to postgame interviews with players and head coach Scott Arniel. https://t.co/ZAauBY0F7R
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 11, 2025