DALLAS – So far, the Winnipeg Jets have done exactly what they’ve needed to do on this four-game road trip.
Halfway through it, they’ve earned all four points available to them thanks to wins in Colorado and Chicago. If they want to keep that streak going, they’ll have to do something they haven’t managed to do this season – beat the Dallas Stars.
Every game has been close. In fact, all three have been decided by one goal. The most recent meeting was the closest of all, with the Stars picking up the extra point in the standings thanks to a 4-3 overtime win at American Airlines Center on February 2.
With eight games left on Winnipeg’s schedule, every game and every point takes on an added importance.
“We just said to take care of our own business and that's what we're trying to do. We got ourselves here, but we can't take our foot off the gas," said head coach Scott Arniel following the win in Chicago on Tuesday. “It doesn't get any easier in going into Dallas and then Columbus, so a lot of heavy lifting still to go. We have got to make sure that we continue to do those things that keep us in games and that gives us a chance to win.”
At 32-20-12, the Jets are two points back of Los Angeles for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. Considering they were 11 points back coming out of the Olympic break, it has been a tremendous effort from the group to chip away at the deficit over the past seven weeks.
During that time, Winnipeg is 10-4-4 – tied for the third best record in the West in that span.
“You can see what’s happening around the league that there is pressure now. Not just on the Winnipeg Jets, there is pressure on a lot of teams,” said Arniel. “Some teams are falling back on it, some teams are moving ahead. We like to think we’re a veteran group that can handle this scenario.”
That veteran experience can definitely be an asset at this time of season. It gets harder and harder to score goals or make plays as the regular season dwindles down. Getting to the front of the net – where Winnipeg had success against Colorado – also gets more difficult. Every team’s defending reaches another level.
“You’ve got to perform under pressure. I think that's the biggest thing,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said. “We don't have time to just squander points. We can't have these letdowns where we play one great game, and then come down and take a breath.”
The Jets didn’t skate on Wednesday, instead using it as a travel day to arrive in Dallas in the early afternoon. The team will hold a morning skate, so stay tuned for any line-up information as it comes available.
As for the Stars (44-19-2), they trail Colorado by eight points for top spot in the Central Division. In the rear view mirror, the Minnesota Wild are six points back of Dallas. Things haven’t been easy for the Stars of late, as injuries have piled up to players like Roope Hintz, Tyler Myers, and Radek Faksa on top of the fact Tyler Seguin will not return this season due to a torn ACL he suffered in early December.
Tonight’s game with Winnipeg opens up a five-game home stand for Dallas, who will also host Colorado, Calgary, Minnesota, and the New York Rangers over the next nine days.
In their last outing, the Stars dropped a 6-3 decision to the Boston Bruins. It was a bitter way to end a four-game Eastern Conference road trip for the Stars, as the game was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes before Boston pulled away with four goals in the final period.
Overall, the Stars went 1-2-1 on the trip and are hoping some home cooking turns their fortunes.
So while the Stars want the two points to get momentum rolling in their favour again, the Jets need the points to continue making a statement in the wildcard race.
“We've been fighting, clawing, scratching to try to get closer and closer to the playoff line,” said Josh Morrissey. “When it's all said and done, I think it's going to come right down to the wire.”
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm CT.
