WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets were looking to stop the bleeding of a two game road losing skid as they returned home for a huge divisional match against the suddenly surging Dallas Stars who are starting to get hot and are looking at catching the Jets. They took a big step as they defeated Winnipeg 5-2 and closed to within seven points and have two games in hand. The Jets have now lost three in a row and things won’t get easier for them as they head out for a back to back road trip in Calgary and Vancouver.
“[The Stars] have some guys up front that can make you pay, and that was the difference,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd said.
Michael Hutchinson was in the net for the Jets and he gave up 5 goals on 32 shots. He has now given up 10 goals in his last 2 starts. His record falls to 14-6-2 on the season.
“We took some bad penalties,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice.
Kari Lehtonen was in the pipes for the Dallas Stars and he was spectacular facing 40 shots and making 38 saves. He was on his game as the Jets mounted tons of pressure early and could not get anything by him. He was named the games second star.
Winnipeg got goals from Andrew Ladd his 18th and Toby Enstrom his 2nd of the season.
Dallas got goals from Patrick Eaves his 5th, Shawn Horcoff his 7th, Jason Spezza his 9th, John Lingberg his 8th and 9th of the season.
“I feel like we’re right there,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “We’re not that far out. We’re knocking on the door of a [Playoff] spot, and we’ve got to keep knocking.”
The Jets undisciplined play was what cost them this game as the Stars had 4 power play goals on 8 chances. Untimely penalties were costly and will have to be addressed as this three game skid needs to stop or they are going to see their Wild Card spot slip away.
“I’m not very excited about our penalty kill right now,” Maurice said. “That’s the big challenge right now. Our penalty kill is struggling. We’re not moving at anywhere near the rate of speed and assuredness and the routes that we’re running. We’re slow on our kill right now, and that’s a confidence [issue].”
After a lackluster first period Coach Maurice must have some kind words for the troops as they came out on fire dominating the Stars and had them on the ropes until a penalty changed the momentum and the Stars regrouped and there power play took over.
“I thought the desperation was good,” Ruff said. “Obviously they were trying to play really physically. They took a few penalties. The only way you can stop the physical play is by putting the puck in the back of the net. For us, we had the opportunities. If you don’t take [advantage of] those opportunities, then it keeps coming.”
This game was a physical affair between these two division foes and this was one area that the Jets controlled were the hitting as they out hit the Stars 31- 13. In the third period during a skirmish after a whistle there was a questionable motion from Dustin Byfuglien as he attempted to bite the fingers of Travis Moen or made a pretend movement with his mouth that the league may review.
The Jets fall to 26-17-8 on the season and still have the first Wild Card in the West.
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