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The Winnipeg Jets find themselves on the brink of elimination after a 3–1 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night.
Despite another strong start and a solid performance through much of the game, Winnipeg was once again stymied by Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger and undone by a Mikael Granlund hat trick. With the loss, the Jets now trail 3–1 in the best-of-seven series.
The series shifts back to Winnipeg for Game 5 on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CDT.
Jets start with pressure, but Stars strike first
Winnipeg started strong in their second straight game at American Airlines Center, applying early pressure and creating several quality scoring chances. But Oettinger stood tall for Dallas, turning away everything the Jets threw at him in the opening frame.
The Stars opened the scoring on the power play at 8:04. With Dylan DeMelo in the box for holding the stick, Granlund went coast-to-coast and beat Connor Hellebuyck with a snap shot from high in the slot—his second goal of the playoffs.
The Jets didn’t back off, continuing to push offensively. They outshot the Stars 11–5 in the first period and outhit them as well.
Tyler Seguin took a late penalty at 19:00, setting Winnipeg up with a power play to start the second.
Ehlers answers, but late turnover proves costly
The Jets opened the second with just under a minute left on the man advantage and kept the pressure on.
Their persistence paid off shortly after the power play expired when Nikolaj Ehlers fired a low snap shot past Oettinger at 1:03 to tie the game. It was Ehlers’ third goal of the postseason, assisted by Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey.
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— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 14, 2025
Moments later, Alex Iafallo took a puck to the face and left the game briefly, though he returned later in the period.
Seguin was sent off again—this time for tripping Ehlers at 3:19—but Winnipeg couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing power play. Nino Niederreiter was then penalized for hooking at 7:39, and the Jets’ penalty kill responded by holding Dallas without a shot.
Despite carrying much of the play and limiting the Stars to just nine shots through most of the period, the Jets surrendered the go-ahead goal late. After a turnover by Niederreiter, Dallas countered quickly and Granlund buried his second of the game over Hellebuyck’s glove at 17:52, sending the Jets into the third period trailing 2–1.
Granlund completes hat trick as Jets fall short
Winnipeg’s hopes took another hit early in the third when Haydn Fleury was assessed a double minor for high-sticking at 3:26. Fleury argued it was a follow-through, but officials upheld the call after video review.
Kyle Connor nearly turned the tide with a shorthanded breakaway but was denied again by Oettinger—despite taking a slash on the play that went uncalled. Hellebuyck responded with a big blocker save at the other end, but the pressure from Dallas continued. With just three seconds left on the extended power play, Granlund struck again at 7:23 to complete his first career playoff hat trick.
It was also his fourth goal of the playoffs and the second time this series a Stars player has recorded a hat trick against the Jets.
Down 3–1, Winnipeg had 12:37 to mount a comeback. They got a late power play at 4:53 after Mark Scheifele was clipped in a post-whistle scrum. Head coach Scott Arniel chose to keep Hellebuyck in net during the advantage, pulling him only with 2:51 to go.
But Oettinger continued to shut the door, stopping 31 of 32 shots for the win.
Hellebuyck now has a .851 save percentage and a 3.48 goals against average in the playoffs, after posting a staggering .925 and 2.00 in the regular season.