The Dallas Stars will pay a visit to the Winnipeg Jets tonight at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This Central Division clash has major playoff implications: the Jets (71 points) are in sole possession of the seventh seed in the Western Conference, while the Stars (63 points) find themselves at the precipice of also-ran status. This will be the fourth of four regular season meetings between the clubs, and Winnipeg holds a 2-1-0 edge in the season series. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CST, and the game can be seen locally on KTXA.
Records and Scores
Dallas Stars (27-24-9), 6th in Central Division
2/21/15: Loss, 7-6 (OT), vs. DET
App Trigger
Winnipeg Jets (30-20-11), 4th in Central Division
2/21/15: Loss, 3-4, @ TOR
2/19/15: Loss, 1-4, @ WAS
2/16/15: Win, 5-4, vs. EDM
Storylines
Stars Teetering Precariously on the Edge
For all the ups-and-downs of the Dallas Stars’ massively disappointing 2104-15 campaign, it’s come down to this: get it done, and get it done right now, or the front office will fold the tents and unload pending free agents before the deadline. All the preseason hype and dreams of divisional dominance are a distant memory, but the team still has an outside chance of a postseason berth. Is it likely? No way. Will they continue to search for answers and struggle to stay alive until their depleted roster gets a little more healthy? You bet. A win tonight would be a big one in the chase, but sustained excellence is the only thing that can save the Dallas Stars.
Jets Looking to Contend
The hockey-crazed nation of Canada is no place for a team who piddles about their business; the locals expect you to win. The Jets have turned the corner and are now seriously eyeing a playoff berth. Sure, the Evander Kane fiasco may have hurt them in the short term, but they are on the hunt for a forward or two to round out their roster. They have enviable depth on defense, but are currently weathering a rash of injuries. D-men Ben Chiarot and Grant Clitsome remain on IR, although Jay Harrison is expected to return to the lineup tonight. Dustin Byfuglien will continue playing at forward, as Blake Wheeler will miss tonight’s contest.
Jets White Out
Injury Report
For the Stars, Patrik Nemeth has been assigned to the AHL and hopes to return soon after missing the last three months with a lacerated arm. Tyler Seguin (knee), Patrick Eaves (concussion), Travis Moen (upper body), Valeri Nichushkin (hip), and Rich Peverley (chest) are inactive tonight.
For the Jets, Ben Chiarot (upper body), Blake Wheeler (undisclosed), Mathieu Perreault (lower body), Matt Halischuk (lower body), and Grant Clitsome (upper body) are inactive tonight.
Projected Line Combinations
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Jason Spezza – Erik Cole
Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Ryan Garbutt
Curtis McKenzie – Vernon Fiddler – Ales Hemsky
Brett Ritchie – Shawn Horcoff – Colton Sceviour
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Jyrki Jokipakka – Trevor Daley
Jordie Benn – Jason Demers
Kari Lehtonen
Jhonas Enroth
Winnipeg Jets
Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Michael Frolik
Dustin Byfuglien – Mark Scheifele – Drew Stafford
T.J. Galiardi – Adam Lowry – Chris Thorburn
Carl Klingberg – Jim Slater – Anthony Peluso
Tobias Enstrom – Tyler Myers
Mark Stuart – Jacob Trouba
Adam Pardy – Jay Harrison
Michael Hutchinson
Andrej Pavelec
Prediction
The Dallas Stars will rally the troops, and pull off a big 4-2 win in Winnipeg. Will it be enough to save the season?
Check back to Blackout Dallas for postgame coverage and analysis!