Dallas @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2019 ) Winnipeg 3, Dallas 5

The Winnipeg Jets host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday in a meeting of foes who look to continue their outstanding play from November in a very competitive Central Division. The Stars went 10-2-1 last month while the Jets finished 10-3-1, and they are tied for third in the division behind only St. Louis and Colorado after splitting a pair of November matchups.

“We knew at the start of the year our division was going to be a good division,” Dallas forward Blake Comeau told reporters after the Stars began December with a 3-2 shootout loss Sunday at Minnesota. “Teams are starting to play well.” Comeau and defenseman John Klingberg scored for the Stars, but it wasn’t enough as Dallas fell to 0-2-1 in its past three games after going 14-1-1 in its previous 16 contests. The Jets also come into the matchup following a defeat, losing on Saturday at Los Angeles 2-1 after starting slow and giving up both tallies in the first period. “Our game is definitely night and day from where it was in October,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told the media postgame. “We put ourselves in a good position here and looking toward the next month.”

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

ABOUT THE STARS (15-10-3): Center Tyler Seguin leads the team in points (21) and assists (15), but has just two points in his past five games, while center Joe Pavelski is pointless in his past eight games. Comeau has a point in each of his past two games after recording just three in his first 12 contests. Goaltender Ben Bishop stopped 27-of-29 shots against Minnesota, but in his past nine appearances is 6-1-1 with a .940 save percentage.

ABOUT THE JETS (16-10-1): Forward Jack Roslovic scored Winnipeg’s lone goal in Los Angeles, giving him a point in three of the past four games (two goals, one assist). Forward Patrik Laine has just seven goals through his first 25 games after scoring 30 last season and 44 in 2017-18, but finished November with eight assists (12 points total) in 13 games. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went 8-2-1 in November with a .944 SP and a 1.85 goals against average.

OVERTIME

1. The Stars led the NHL in fewest goals allowed in November (26), while the Jets tied for second (31).

2. Hellebuyck entered Monday tied for the NHL lead in wins (13), second in save percentage (.933) and sixth in goals against average (2.23).

3. Bishop ranks fifth in the league in goals against average (2.20) and ninth in save percentage (.928).

PREDICTION: Jets 3, Stars 2