The Jets vs. Stars clash of the NHL playoffs is underway, featuring a highly anticipated Western Conference matchup between these two teams. Game 1 of this best-of-seven series took place on Wednesday night in Winnipeg, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive battle.
The Jets entered the series with home-ice advantage, having finished the regular season with an impressive 116 points, leading the NHL. The Stars, finishing second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference with 106 points, secured a crucial road victory to take an early series lead.
Early Series Momentum and Key Performers
The Dallas Stars struck first in the series, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in Game 1. This outcome means the Stars have already taken away the home-ice advantage from the Jets.
A pivotal performance in the series opener came from forward Mikko Rantanen, who recorded a natural hat trick in the second period, accounting for all of Dallas’ goals. Performances like these are what define the intensity and unpredictability of the NHL playoffs, where momentum can shift in a single period. Rantanen’s performance extended his personal points streak to four games.
Rantanen’s Historic Performance
Mikko Rantanen’s three-goal effort was particularly noteworthy as it marked his second consecutive hat trick in the playoffs. He had previously scored a hat trick in the third period of the Stars’ Game 7 win against his former Colorado teammates.
This achievement placed him in rare company, becoming only the third player in NHL history, and the first in nearly 40 years, to accomplish hat tricks in back-to-back playoff games.
Context of Playoff History
The only other players to achieve consecutive playoff hat tricks were Jari Kurri of Edmonton in 1985 and Doug Bentley of Chicago in 1944. Rantanen himself wryly acknowledged the unpredictable nature of scoring in hockey, noting how sometimes the puck just finds a way into the net, while other times, during tough stretches, scoring chances seem non-existent.
Game 1 Recap and Scoring Details
Game 1 saw the Jets take an early lead in the second period. Nino Niederreiter opened the scoring for Winnipeg with a sharp-angled backhander at 3:30 of the second period. This goal was significant for Niederreiter, as it occurred in his 100th career postseason game, making him the first Swiss-born player to reach that milestone. The Jets’ lead was short-lived, however, as Mikko Rantanen tied the game at 8:43 of the second period with his sixth goal of the postseason.
Rantanen then gave the Stars the lead with a tip of Thomas Harley’s point shot. This goal came with 5:39 remaining in the second period. Completing his natural hat trick, Rantanen scored his third goal on the power play. The puck deflected off Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg before hitting the back of the net, putting Dallas up 3-1 with 2:17 left in the second period.
Goaltending and Key Returns
Both teams relied on their starting goaltenders in Game 1. Jake Oettinger made 30 saves for the Dallas Stars and on the other side of the ice, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 shots for the Winnipeg Jets. The game also saw the return of key players for both squads who had been sidelined by injuries.
This included Mark Scheifele who was back for the Jets after sustaining an upper-body injury in their first-round series against St. Louis. For the Stars, Jason Robertson returned to the lineup after injuring his knee in the final game of the regular season.
Team Perspectives and Future Games
After the Game 1 loss, Jets head coach Scott Arniel admitted his team wasn’t at its best and acknowledged the disappointment of surrendering home-ice advantage. While he emphasized that Dallas didn’t control the entire game, he conceded that the Jets fell short of their usual standard.
Reflecting on both his individual effort and the team’s overall performance, Mikko Rantanen noted that in hockey, momentum can swing quickly—“sometimes things just go your way.” Stars center Sam Steele praised Rantanen’s standout play, calling him one of the best players in the world and saying he’s “on fire” right now. Steele added that the team is focused on keeping the puck in Rantanen’s hands to maximize his impact.
The series continues with Game 2 scheduled for Friday night in Winnipeg. The series schedule includes games on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, and potentially May 17 and May 19 if needed. The Jets will look to rebound and reclaim momentum on home ice before the series shifts to Dallas.
A Statistical Overview of the Matchup
Looking at the regular season standings provides important context for the series. The Winnipeg Jets finished the 2024–25 regular season with 56 wins and 116 points, earning the top spot in the Central Division and capturing the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best overall team. The Dallas Stars also had a strong campaign, finishing second in the division with 50 wins and 106 points, placing them third overall in the Western Conference.
How Will This End?
Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round between the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets delivered an exciting start to the series. Mikko Rantanen’s historic offensive outburst propelled the Stars to an early lead and successfully shifted the home-ice advantage.
While the Jets expressed disappointment in their performance, the series is far from over, with multiple games remaining. The individual performances, goaltending battle, and team strategies showcased in the opener suggest a compelling series ahead as both teams vie for a spot in the conference final.