Stars Beat Jets 3-2 on Reviewed Goal in Overtime

At first, the half-blind official 10 feet from the net, called it no goal. However, on video review moments later, a shot off the stick of Dallas Stars' Tyler Seguin that bounced off, up and over Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was declared to have crossed the redline. In the blink of a replay, Dallas had a 3-2 win and the Jets had lost their third straight game. Sure, the Jets got a road point out of the deal, but it was a game that Hellebuyck had given Winnipeg a chance to win and despite a great scoring opportunity in OT by Josh Morrissey, the Jets fell in OT for the the sixth time in eight opportunities this season. It was also the third time this season, the Jets and Stars had gone to overtime. Winnipeg won the first meeting 4-3 in shootout on Nov. 2, while Dallas won 4-3 in overtime in Dallas on Feb. 11. This time, Dallas won again as the Jets fell to 22-20-9 on the season. Once again, Winnipeg's inability to score goals caused them nothing but grief. During three straight losses in the last three games, the Jets have managed just five goals. For a franchise that has spent so much money on skilled goal-scorers, the Jets aren't getting much of a bang for their buck. Winnipeg opened the scoring at 7:14 of the first period when Blake Wheeler took a great pass from Neal Pionk and blasted a wrister to the stick side, past Jake Oettinger. Mark Scheifele also drew an assist and the Jets were playing well and seemed to be in control. In the second period, still ahead 1-0, Winnipeg fought through a double-minor and two other Dallas power-plays, but a huge mistake in the dying seconds of the period might have cost Winnipeg the game. Playing with a man-advantage of their own, Pionk misplayed the puck in the Dallas zone. The Stars took control and started a two-on-one rush that was finished off by Jamie Benn who tallied his 13th of the season. That tied it at one apiece and the Stars had completely taken over momentum. Of course, Dallas had enjoyed four power plays too Winnipeg's two through the first two periods and even started the third period with a man advantage for a full two minutes. However, once again the Jets fought off the penalty and then got a break. At 3:04, Dallas' Radek Faksa took a hooking penalty and at 4:27, Scheifele ripped home his 18th goal of the season with a blistering shot from the left circle. Pionk and Kyle Connor drew the assists as the Jets, despite being outshot 26-16 at the time, had a 2-1 lead. However, the Stars were relentless and finally tied the game at 13:35 when Denis Gurianov turned a brilliant Jamie Benn pass into Dallas' second goal of the game. At this point, Dallas had outshot Winnipeg 36-18 and were it not for Hellebuyck, Winnipeg might have been on the wrong end of a blowout. However, Hellebuyck made 36 saves in regulation (Dallas outshot Winnipeg 38-21) and not only got the Jets a point, but a shot at a win in overtime. That win was not to be and suddenly the Jets were 0-1-1, midway through a four-game road trip. The Stars outshot Winnipeg 39-22, outhit them 15-12 ( really?) and won 52 per cent of the face-offs. Dallas went zero-for-five on the power play while the Jets were one-for-three. Once again, the NHL's officiating was vomit-inducing. The Jets best line belonged to Hellebuyck who stopped 36-of-39 shots, nine-for-nine on the power play and had a save percentage of .923. The Jets play again Friday night in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche. Game time is 8 p.m. on TSN3 (thank goodness).