The Jets aim to win four crucial divisional games over the Dallas Stars next season

The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a historic year with franchise best numbers across the board. If they want to find themselves in a similar position, they'll need to win crucial games starting in the Central Division. The Central is tougher than ever and with only three available spots plus a pair of wild card spots, they need to win these games. 

One of their key divisional opponents is the Dallas Stars. After falling to the Lone Star State hockey club in the second round, the Jets will look to bounce back and carry their regular-season momentum into the new campaign, having won three of four matchups last year. This back-and-forth trend has defined the rivalry in recent seasons, with one team often taking the upper hand for a year. 

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The Stars did so the season before, winning three of four themselves. In many cases, one side seems to figure the other out during the regular season. Through 60 all-time meetings, the rivalry remains tight with both teams having recorded 27 wins, though Dallas holds a slight edge with six additional victories coming in overtime.

Winnipeg suffered some losses in the lineup like top six winger Nikolaj Ehlers as well as a key member of the Jets' deadly third forward line in Mason Appleton. However, they made some notable additions in response like 75-point man during the 2023-24 season in Gustav Nyquist along with veteran leadership in three-time Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Toews. 

Dallas will look to respond after being tossed in the Conference Finals once again at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers despite making a blockbuster add in superstar Mikko Rantanen. The Stars also lost several pieces that they will need to make up for in top six winger Mikael Granlund, key depth forward Mason Marchment and top four defenceman Cody Ceci. 

The two sides will be engaged in another series of tightly contested matchups with each games proving to be must watch for hockey fans. They will first faceoff October 9th in the season opener at Canada Life Centre followed by another home matchup on December 9th. They will then travel South to Dallas to take on the Stars, Febuary 2nd and April 2nd.

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