This second-round series features two teams that likely feel they`ve already expended the emotional energy needed to win the Stanley Cup. Both Central Division first-round matchups went the full seven games, delivering significant drama.
On Saturday, the Dallas Stars made NHL history by being the first team to win Game 7 in regulation after trailing by multiple goals in the third period. Mikko Rantanen, a long-time member of the Avalanche, scored a third-period hat trick against his former team, later stating in a post-game interview that he still held affection for his old teammates.
Twenty-four hours later, the Winnipeg Jets tied their game against the St. Louis Blues with their goalie pulled, scoring twice late. Cole Perfetti notched the second goal with just three seconds left in the third period, the latest Game 7 equalizer in league history. Captain Adam Lowry then secured the win for Winnipeg in double overtime.
After such dramatic wins, do these teams have anything left? Naturally, when Game 1 starts in Winnipeg on Wednesday, both the Jets and Stars will be mentally prepared.
Adding to their similar first-round journeys, both Dallas and Winnipeg finished their Game 7s missing a key forward and, for the most part, their top defenseman.
Dallas managed to defeat Colorado without their second-highest scorer, Jason Robertson, or star defenseman Miro Heiskanen playing a single shift in Game 7.
Winnipeg`s situation saw top center Mark Scheifele sidelined after being injured in Game 5 against the Blues. Defenseman Josh Morrissey played only 2:09 in Game 7 before leaving, forcing his team to play without him for nearly the entire game and overtime periods.
The Stars anticipate Robertson and Heiskanen returning for Round 2, but a specific timeframe hasn`t been announced. Scheifele was a game-time decision for Game 7, and the Jets provided no update on Morrissey`s status after their victory.
For everyone watching this compelling matchup – the first playoff meeting between these two franchises – hopefully, all four players can participate in the series soon.
Head-to-Head Records
- Winnipeg: 3-1-0
- Dallas: 1-3-0
PLAYOFF TEAM STATS
ADVANCED STATS
Regular season 5-on-5 numbers via Natural Stat Trick
Jets X-Factor: Getting Scheifele, Morrissey back
The Jets were likely bracing for another first-round exit after recent playoff disappointments. Despite leading the league in wins over the last two seasons (108), they were eliminated in five games by Vegas in 2023 and similarly swept aside by Colorado last spring, even with home-ice advantage.
However, after winning the Presidents` Trophy, they showed resilience, staging a courageous comeback against the Blues in Game 7 to snatch victory from defeat. Has this dramatic win lifted the pressure from the team?
While key players are needed back for both sides, the Jets arguably have a more critical need for Scheifele and Morrissey. Without Scheifele, the top line center duties fall to players like Adam Lowry or Vlad Namestnikov. And despite Neal Pionk`s impressive 46:15 of ice time in Game 7, it`s unreasonable to expect him to perform as the top defenseman for an extended playoff run.
Stars X-Factor: Mikko Rantanen
Mikko Rantanen, nicknamed `Moose`, has found his scoring touch. Rantanen was relatively quiet for the first four games against Colorado but exploded with 11 points in the final three games.
It`s been a challenging season for Rantanen, who was traded from Colorado in January, the only NHL team he`d known. He then faced immediate pressure regarding a long-term contract with Carolina, the team he was traded to. When that didn`t work out, he was traded again at the deadline and signed an eight-year extension with the Stars.
