Winnipeg @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2019 ) Dallas 2, Winnipeg 3

The Dallas Stars are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, with wins in 11 of the past 13 games, and have a chance to avenge one of those two defeats when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. The Stars kept things rolling in Tuesday’s 6-1 home rout of Vancouver as captain Jamie Benn scored twice and recorded an assist, helping lift Dallas to its fourth victory in a row and giving the Stars an 11-1-1 record following a 1-7-1 start to the season.

“I’m just trying to continue to do the right things,” Benn told reporters after extending his point streak to three games (three goals, three assists). “You get your bounces some nights and sometimes you don’t.” One of the few times things haven’t bounced the Stars way of late was on Nov. 10 in Winnipeg, when center Mark Scheifele scored 21 seconds into overtime to give the Jets a 3-2 victory. The Jets also are playing well, going 7-1-1 in their past nine contests and improving their record in one-goal games to 10-1-1 following Tuesday’s 2-1 triumph at Nashville. “It’s good to be in the position we’ve been,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told the media postgame. “One-goal leads are really important to have obviously for the standings, but learning how to play with that one goal.”

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE JETS (13-8-1): Forward Nikolaj Ehlers scored his 100th career goal Tuesday, giving him goals in three consecutive games and eight (14 points) in 11 road contests this season. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves against Nashville, and in his past seven games is 5-1-1 with 14 goals allowed and a .943 save percentage. Forward Kyle Connor has recorded an assist in three consecutive games, and at least one point in eight of his past 12 contests (four goals, nine assists in that span).

ABOUT THE STARS (12-8-2): Dallas has scored 44 goals during its 13-game surge and is getting offense from several key contributors, including Benn and center Tyler Seguin (two goals, five assists during a three-game point streak). Center Justin Dowling, who had not scored in 20 career NHL games entering the season, has three goals in his past four contests (one goal, one assist Tuesday). Goaltender Ben Bishop stopped 32-of-33 shots Tuesday and is 4-0-0 with a .952 save percentage in his past five appearances.

OVERTIME

1. Jets C Blake Wheeler did not practice Wednesday after being hit in the face with a puck in the third period Tuesday, but is expected to play Thursday.

2. Dallas F Blake Comeau extended his point streak to three games with an assist Tuesday.

3. Winnipeg got goals from F Patrik Laine and C Andrew Copp in the first meeting with Dallas, while F Mattias Janmark and C Radek Faksa scored for the Stars.

PREDICTION: Stars 3, Jets 1