Game Recap: Stars Overcome Late Tying Goal, Beat Jets In Overtime

The Stars skated away with another massive victory over a Central Division opponent as they defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime on Friday night. It was another playoff atmosphere, as the two division rivals battled all the way past 60 minutes.

“That was a great hockey game,” Bowness said. “The fans certainly had a very entertaining game to watch. The fights and the hits, that was a great hockey game and there’s going to a lot more of those coming up and down the stretch.”

Jason Robertson scored the game-winner 3:10 into the overtime period after Roope Hintz stole a puck from a Jets forward before they could race down on a 2 on 0 the other way. Robertson’s first shot was blocked but he followed up on the rebound and deked around Connor Hellebuyck, tucking the puck in a yawning cage. It was Robertson’s third goal in the last two games and helped the Stars secure a win after some doubt began to creep into the arena late in the game.

The doubt came from a late Mark Scheifele goal that tied the game at three with 32 seconds remaining. It was the fifth time the Stars have allowed a 6 on 5 goal this season, something they need to work on moving forward. Scheifele led all Jets skaters with two points in the game.

“We have come a long way from where we were at the start of the year dealing with that [overcoming adversity and matching intensity], cuz we didn’t handle those things well early,” Bowness said. “We're handling all of those situations much better now. Little more confidence in the group that we can come back, little more confidence in the group that we can hang on to a lead. It’s steps along the way.”

Jamie Benn was the main story tonight, as the captain recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (1G, 1A, 1 fight). He recorded an assist on Tyler Seguin’s second-period goal, scored the go-ahead goal that looked to be the game-winner in the third, and fought his former teammate and buddy Brendan Dillon after he laid a huge hit on an unsuspecting John Klingberg.

“My team comes first,” Benn said. “I care about my players.”

The game was a perfect example of what Benn can bring and how much he means to this team.

“That was huge what he does,” Bowness said. “And that represents what we are all about. We stick up for each other and we are a family. If they take a run at one of us, they take a run at all of us. We preach that every day. Jamie epitomizes what we are all about so I was thrilled for him to get that third goal for us.”

Jake Oettinger looked to be his normal self again, despite allowing three goals against. He finished the game with 31 saves and a .912 save percentage and was instrumental in keeping Dallas in the game at many points throughout.

The win boosted Dallas within three points of the Anaheim Ducks, who sit in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Dallas has four games in hand on Anaheim but still has plenty of work to do ahead of them.

“We got Colorado coming in, that’s what we get focused on now,” Bowness said. “We are not in a playoff spot yet, we got a long way to go. We’ve got to keep winning.”

As Bowness said, that work begins Sunday with another Central Division matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on home ice. Colorado is 9-0-1 in their last 10, so the challenge will likely be even bigger than the previous two games.