Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars Set for Fierce Round 2 Battle After Wild Game 7 Victories
After two late third-period comebacks, we get a series for the ages in a high-stakes Central Division clash. The Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars will square off in a second-round series loaded with intensity, skill, and long-standing rivalry.
Dallas booked their spot in Round 2 thanks to a spectacular solo effort from superstar Mikko Rantanen, as they aim for back-to-back conference final appearances.
With the return of Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen plus seasoned veterans Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin bringing grit and playoff savvy, the Stars are geared up for another deep run.
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Winnipeg arrives riding high after a stunning Game 7 rally against the St. Louis Blues, earning their first playoff series win in four years.
Anchored by Josh Morrissey on defense and bolstered by one of the NHL’s deepest forward groups—led by Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele—the Jets seem more than ready to push back with purpose.
Expect relentless checking, rising tempers, and likely a few overtime thrillers. This series has all the ingredients of a postseason classic.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Betting Strategy: Goaltending Should Lead To Low-Scoring Results
Much of the narrative surrounding the Jets this year has centered on Connor Hellebuyck’s brilliance between the pipes and whether it would carry over into the playoffs.
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After a rough outing on the road where he was pulled, the concern was real. But the team responded, with timely scoring capped by Cole Perfetti’s last-second game-tying goal in Game 7, eventually leading to the win.
That moment may go down as the biggest of Hellebuyck’s career and could mark a turning point for the Hart Trophy candidate. It’s worth remembering that Sergei Bobrovsky once struggled in the postseason before becoming a playoff rock for the Panthers.
Hellebuyck may be on the cusp of a similar transformation, and with Dallas’ Jake Oettinger manning the opposite crease, scoring could be at a premium.
Oettinger, fresh off a conference final appearance last season, has upped his career playoff goals-against average to 2.69 with a 17-16 postseason record. This season, he posted a 36-18-4 record with a 2.59 GAA, putting him firmly in the conversation among the NHL’s top five goaltenders.
Both goaltenders finished among the top 12 in goals-against average during the regular season, with Hellebuyck leading the league at 2.00 en route to his second consecutive Vezina Trophy.
With eight straight head-to-head games featuring under six total goals, fans should brace for a series defined by tight, low-scoring affairs.
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Betting Strategy: Connor, Vilardi Gain Value Without Scheifele
If Mark Scheifele remains sidelined, the onus will fall on Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi to carry the offensive load. Connor has risen to the occasion with four goals and eight assists for 12 points, often shouldering the scoring burden alone. His chemistry could help spark Vilardi, who returned in Game 5 but hasn’t registered a point in seven games.
Vilardi, who racked up 61 points in 71 regular-season games, is overdue for a breakout performance and usually offers solid value in point-prop odds. If Winnipeg is to succeed, they’ll need him to step up in a major way.
Game 7 Pressure Could Favor Jets Bettors
The Jets will need a fast start in this series to avoid playing from behind, especially against a Dallas team coached by Pete DeBoer, who owns a perfect 9-0 record in game seven's throughout his coaching career.
For those backing Winnipeg, there’s some encouraging value on the betting front. Sportsbooks have a market where the Jets either winning the series or forcing a Game 7 is enough for the wager to cash. The series is expected to be tight, and if the Jets can extend it to the limit, bettors on Winnipeg +1.5 for the series could come out ahead.
That specific line is available at FanDuel Sportsbook at -158 odds, meaning a $10 bet returns $16.33, resulting in a $6.33 profit. Given that the Jets have won four of their last five and six of their last ten against the Stars, there’s a strong case that this series is destined to go the distance.
Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets
Winnipeg Jets:
- Mark Schefiele finished the season strong with 15 points over his last 16 games and carried it over into the postseason, where he recorded six points in five games. The Jets 2011 first round pick has been solid in this matchup with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points over his last 19 games versus Dallas.
- Kyle Connor has been the Jets best player all-season and has torched the league since the Four-Nations Break with 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points over his last 26 games. He carried Winnipeg's offence through the first round with 12 points in seven games. The former Michigan Wolverine has four goals and an assist for five points over his last two matchups versus Dallas.
- Cole Perfetti has been on fire with three goals and two assists for five points in the first round versus St. Louis. He has a pair of goals and three assists for five points over his last nine games versus Dallas.
Dallas Stars:
- Mikko Rantanen is tied for the league lead in playoff points following the first round with five goals and seven assists for 12 points through seven games. The Finnish winger has 29 points over his last 25 games versus Winnipeg but has been slumping in this matchup with just one point over their last five matchups.
- Roope Hintz finished the first round red hot with three goals and three assists for six points over their last three games. He has been one of the better Stars in this matchup with five points over his last six games versus Winnipeg.
- Wyatt Johnston has been Dallas' best playoff performer since their run to the Western Conference Finals last season. The 21-year-old has recorded 13 goals and ten assists for a team-best 23 points over his last 26 playoff games and has continued his success this postseason with seven points in as many games versus the Blues in the first round. He has struggled in this matchup however with one point over his last five games versus the Jets.
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Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars – Series Schedule:
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 7 – Dallas at Winnipeg
- Game 2: Friday, May 9 – Dallas at Winnipeg
- Game 3: Sunday, May 11 – Winnipeg at Dallas
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 13 – Winnipeg at Dallas
- Game 5: Thursday, May 15 – Dallas at Winnipeg
- Game 6: Saturday, May 17 – Winnipeg at Dallas
- Game 7: Monday, May 19 – Dallas at Winnipeg