Preview: Stars return home to take on Jets

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars

About the Stars

The Stars (35-22-4) wrapped up a three-game California road trip with a 2-0 win at Los Angeles on Thursday. Kari Lehtonen stopped 18 shots for his first shutout of the season, and Tyler Seguin snapped the scoreless tie with 8:27 left in the third period. The win snapped a two-game skid for the Stars, who had lost the night before in Anaheim despite dominating play.
"We've played so well the last two nights we needed to get rewarded," said Stars coach Ken Hitchcock. "As well as we played tonight, we probably played better last night, and we needed to start seeing rewards for this good play and getting that [Seguin] goal just was a big relief for everybody. It freed up the tension that we'd been dealing with the last two games."
The Stars will face Winnipeg for the first time since November. The Jets are the only team in the Central Division the Stars have yet to defeat, losing the first two games by a combined score of 9-3.
"I think it's good we got back on a little roll here with the way we need to play because we definitely owe them," said Stars defenseman Greg Pateryn. "It's going to be a tough game like it was [against Los Angeles], but I think everyone is looking forward to that game."
With Minnesota defeating the New York Rangers Friday, the Wild moved one point ahead of Dallas and took over third place in the Central Division. The Stars dropped back to the first wild-card spot in the West.
Saturday begins a five-game homestand for the Stars.
Injuries:C Martin Hanzal (lower body) is out.

About the Jets

The Jets (36-16-9) played Friday night, winning 4-0 at St. Louis. The Jets led 3-0 after one period and extended the lead to 4-0 in the second. Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor both tallied one goal and one assist and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 34 shots as the Jets won for the fourth time in the last five games.
"We could have been a little bit better, but [Hellebuyck] played really well, we were able to get a nice lead in the first, and we were able to cruise from there," Wheeler said. "We took our foot off the gas, probably could have done more in the third. But they are a proud group over there, and they were pushing. You have to give them credit."
The Jets, who had just concluded a ten-game homestand, were playing their first road game since Jan. 25.
Winnipeg pulled to within two points of Nashville for first place in the Central Division, but the Predators have one game in hand.
Saturday's game concludes a two-game road trip for the Jets.
Injuries: C Shawn Matthias (upper body), G Steve Mason (concussion), D Jacob Trouba (ankle), LW Adam Lowry (upper body), and LW Brandon Tanev (upper body) all are on injured reserve.

Season Series

Statistical Tidbits

This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.