The second-round NHL playoff series featuring the Dallas Stars vs. the Winnipeg Jets ended in Game 6 on Saturday night in Dallas. The Jets had dominated the regular-season series, but Dallas was favoured in the playoffs as Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck struggled mightily on the road. After flipping home-ice advantage early and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, Dallas finished the job with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 6, clinching its third straight appearance in the Western Conference Final.
Coming from Behind … Again
The Stars have had to come from behind in five of their eight wins this postseason, including multiple times in third periods. Saturday was no different, as Winnipeg found the back of the net first. Forward Mark Scheifele seemingly took the air out of the building as he slipped a rebound past Dallas’ Jake Oettinger as a delayed penalty was being called. (A goal nullifies the penalty if anyone was wondering.)
Dallas pressed on, and another unlikely scorer emerged. Forward Sam Steel, known more for his defence and prowess on the penalty kill, fired a shot off a rebound past Hellebuyck’s glove to tie the game. Steel also made a huge play as regulation wound down, drawing the game’s only penalty on a breakaway.
The power-play carried into overtime, where defenceman Thomas Harley smacked a slapshot into the top corner of the net to send the Stars into the Western Conference Final.
Jake Oettinger Saves Stars vs. Jets Series for Dallas
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger has been brilliant this postseason. He has single-handedly kept the Stars alive in games they frankly shouldn’t have even had a chance in — given how their opponents were playing in the offensive end. The 26-year-old has the most wins of any goaltender in this postseason and ranks third in save%. But his greatest play came in a tied game during the third period on Saturday.
HOW DID JAKE OETTINGER STOP THIS???! pic.twitter.com/udOsvyef8b
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 18, 2025
With about 8:40 left in regulation, Winnipeg got a good rush from its forwards. Kyle Connor drew Oettinger over to one side of the goal crease, and the puck ended up on the other side with Mason Appleton facing a wide-open net. It should’ve been the game-winning goal, but Oettinger sprang across the crease and made an unbelievable stick save.
“I just threw a prayer over and it hit me,” Oettinger said postgame. “Got pretty lucky. I think we were owed that after some of the bounces we got in this round, so it all evens out.”
A goal there could have changed the entire outlook on this series. If that puck goes in the net, Winnipeg likely reclaims home-ice advantage by forcing a Game 7 in Winnipeg on Monday night. As good as Dallas has been this postseason, the Jets would have had all the momentum after two straight wins, and the Stars would have been in a “win or go home” situation in one of the toughest road environments in the league.
More than Hockey: Mark Scheifele Plays Through Tragedy
The NHL community received some sad news as the clubs were conducting their routine morning skates on Saturday, as the Jets announced the sudden passing of Scheifele’s father. At the time, it was unknown if Scheifele would play in the game, but he did because his father would want him to.
Scheifele played nearly 19 minutes and netted the game’s first goal, adding a profound and poetic moment to the series. Unfortunately, he was also the player who had to take the penalty that led to the series-clinching goal. Still, his teammates and opponents all embraced him after, showing that even in a heated playoff series, some things are bigger than hockey.
What We Learned from the Stars vs. Jets Series
Throw the regular season out the window when it comes to the playoffs. The Jets won three of four regular-season meetings with the Stars and looked like the far better team doing so. But plenty changed in the postseason. The Stars were able to steal Game 1 on the road and looked like the better team in at least three games. Maybe some of that came from taking down Colorado, or maybe it was just being more prepared.
Goaltending is also a huge element in playoff hockey, as evident from Oettinger’s play. Dallas does not get this far without him. Hellebuyck was the league’s best goalie in the regular season and will likely take home the Vezina Trophy. Yet, once the playoffs came around, his play fell off a cliff, and he put up the worst numbers of any starting goalie in this year’s playoffs. To his credit, Hellebuyck was good on Saturday, but he wasn’t good enough most of the series.
Lastly, unlikely heroes and depth scoring will drive a team in the playoffs. Sam Steel was one of the last players you expected to impact a decisive Game 6 offensively, just as Colin Blackwell was when he scored the overtime winner in Game 2 against Colorado. Plus, there was Alex Petrovic’s series-altering goal in Game 3 against Winnipeg. The depth of Dallas showed in this series when it mattered most, whereas Winnipeg seemed to get its scoring from the same few players each game.
Now, Dallas gets a rematch with Edmonton and another shot to advance to its first Stanley Cup Final since the 2020 bubble.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron- Imagn Images
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