Then after a Jets power play expired, the Stars came back the other way. Radek Faksa snapped a shot off the rush from the left wing beating Hellebuyck over the glove. It was 3-0 Stars with 6:24 to go in the second.
For a Jets team that had won four straight coming into the night, it was a tough spot to be in.
"Nine (games) in 16 (days), sometimes the heart is willing, but the legs don't want to get in behind you. You're a little bit slow, they're real fast and it gets away from you," said Maurice.
"But they found a way to fight back. Good on them."
Two quick goals from the Jets early in the third turned a three-goal deficit into just one.
First, Brendan Lemieux drove the net hard from the right wing and tucked home his third goal of the road trip through Ben Bishop's legs.
Just 21 seconds later, Kyle Connor ripped home a one-timer from the right circle off a fantastic backhand pass from Wheeler.
"We don't give up. We never do in this room," said Wheeler. "Regardless of the score we're going to keep battling to the end. Even if they make it a big lead, we're going to keep fighting. That's a group of guys you can go to work with every single day knowing you have a chance to win."
But Tyler Seguin's deflection on a late Dallas power play caused the puck to drop three feet and bounce past Hellebuyck. That put Dallas up 4-2 with 1:45 to go.
Now the Jets enter the five-day player break, followed by the NHL All-Star Weekend, which Scheifele will be attending for the first time.
"I'm going to enjoy some time in the sun," said Scheifele. "I'll enjoy a bit of a break then go to San Jose and enjoy the All-Star Game with my family, so I'm excited for that."