Winnipeg @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2019 ) Dallas 1, Winnipeg 5

The Winnipeg Jets have taken off since the start of November, and hope to once again earn two points against a Central Division rival when they visit the Dallas Stars on Thursday. There certainly is familiarity between the two teams given Thursday’s matchup is their fourth meeting in a 26-day span, and the Jets have won two of the first three meetings after a dominating 5-1 victory on Tuesday in Winnipeg improved them to 11-3-1 since Nov. 1.

One of the hottest Jets in that span is Kyle Connor, who finished with a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s triumph to give the forward seven goals and 11 assists in 15 games since the start of November. “We thought, and still feel, there’s quite a bit more offense for this group,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters postgame. “Some chemistry is starting to come into the lines a little bit.” Dallas, which has rebounded from a 1-7-1 start to the season, is winless in its past four games and gave up 13 goals while scoring four times in that span. “That was our worst game of the year,” Dallas coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the game. “We never responded throughout the game.”

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

ABOUT THE JETS (17-10-1): Winnipeg got a goal and an assist each Tuesday from forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine, center Mark Scheifele and defenseman Josh Morrissey. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves to earn his 14th win, tied for tops in the NHL through Tuesday, and his .934 save percentage is tied for second in the league entering Wednesday. Ehlers scored his team-leading 13th goal, giving him six goals with two assists in his past nine games.

ABOUT THE STARS (15-11-3): Defenseman Miro Heiskanen scored the lone Dallas goal Tuesday to give him seven goals and 11 assists in his second season. Forward Mattias Janmark has two goals and two assists in his past seven games, picking up an assist on Heiskanen’s goal Tuesday. Goaltender Anton Khudobin made 25 saves in his 200th NHL game Tuesday while giving top goaltender Ben Bishop a night off, and despite allowing five goals made several high-quality stops as the Stars struggled all night in the defensive zone.

OVERTIME

1. Laine has scored 18 goals and 24 points in 16 career games against the Stars.

2. Dallas F Roope Hintz, who scored nine goals (11 points) in his first 16 games this season, has two goals (two points) in six games since returning from injury.

3. The Jets claimed F Nick Shore off waivers from Toronto on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Jets 3