Prime playoff Jake Oettinger helps the Stars ground the Jets in a 3-0 shutout

It's hard to break bad habits. It's even harder to get out of a losing streak against desperate hockey teams near the end of the regular season. The Dallas Stars faced the Winnipeg Jets tonight, as they are close to earning a playoff spot if they keep earning points. The Stars needed to not let the Jets push them around. Dallas had a really good game tonight as they grounded the Jets 3-0. It was probably their best game in the last eight of them.

I was really proud of the fact that the team stood up for Robertson in the third period. Neal Pionk tried to take out Robertson below the waist, and Colin Blackwell jumped in to fight him. If this is the type of team chemistry the Stars are going to have going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, good luck stopping the train. Once this team gets healthy, it's not going to be pretty for the Minnesota Wild. Here are the four takeaways from tonight's win over the Jets.

Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Recap: 4. You do you R2

Arttu Hyry showed up huge for the Stars this evening. His goal and assist helped the Stars pull out of their recent nose dive. When the Stars called him up, I was happy to see that he finally got a chance to prove he's ready for the NHL. He might be in the running for a bottom-six role next season. While he's not quite there since he's only played a few games, I think Hyry might really put himself in the running for a roster spot next training camp.

Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Recap: 3. Get the Dutch Oven warm

Duchene is one of the players I've been watching over the last five games to see if he can get his offense going again. Dallas needs their veterans to step up if it stays so to have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this season. Duchene finding his offensive rrhythm this close to the playoffs is something that Dallas needs heading into the final stretch. Duchene getting the offense going in the first period is what got the offense going tonight.

Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Recap: 2. Dallas snapped that ugly streak

One thing the Stars can take away from tonight's win over the Jets is that they didn't allow the Jets to score the first goal. That snapped the eight game streak, in which the opponent scored the first goal of the game. In the playoffs, you have to sieze control of the game before your opponent does. Dallas did that tonight being up 2-0 at the end of the first period. That was my main concern coming into tonight's game against the Jets. At least the Stars snapped that streak before it got ugly.

Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Recap: 1. There's our prime playoff otter

Jake Oettinger has earned himself one nacho hat at the Texas Rangers tomorrow after his first pitch. He has definitely needed a shutout to regain some momentum and he got it tonight. That's the version of Oettinger the Stars need to see down the stretch. While Casey DeSmith will get some games before the playoffs start, this shutout is something Oettinger needed. I hope that Oettinger can continue building this momentum on Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche.