The Dallas Stars fell 4-0 to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night as the team’s hunt for the first seed has nearly come to an end.
Both teams opened the game slowly, as the score remained tied at zero for most of the first period. However, a Jets goal with just over one minute remaining in the period gave them a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Winnipeg carried this momentum into the second period as forward Morgan Barron sent the puck past Stars goalie Jake Oettinger after less than four minutes.
Dallas never found a rhythm throughout the remainder of the game, allowing Winnipeg to pick up two more goals in the third period to secure an NHL-leading eighth shutout victory this season.
Stars forward Matt Duchene said after the game that Dallas has “struggled with them [Winnipeg] all year,” but he believes the most recent loss was closer than the score indicated.
“They’re the best defensive team in the league. Their record is where it’s at because of that. I thought we did a lot of good things. Our work ethic was good. It’s not like they were dominating us all night. I don’t think it was a 4-0 type of game by any means. It felt like a 2-1 either side,” he explained, per NHL.com.
The Stars are now trailing the Jets by six points for the first seed in the Western Conference, meaning Winnipeg will only need one more point to secure the top seed.
Dallas has also lost four straight games and only managed to pick up two points in the losses.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer said after the game that he believes this losing streak could be good for the team, noting that there are lessons to be learned in difficult regular-season moments.
“It’s not bad to have some adversity as a team, particularly when it’s not costing you,” he said, per NHL.com.
“You’re not going home at the end of the night, so as long as we learn from it…there’s good stuff there and I want to make sure our group understands that. I don’t think we’re very far off from having a very good team game.”
Due to this loss, Dallas is now in danger of falling to a lower seed in the Western Conference, with the Vegas Golden Knights trailing by only one point in the standings.
Both Dallas and Vegas have only three games remaining in the regular season, meaning either team could claim the second seed in the playoffs with solid performances over the coming days.
The good news for the Stars is that they hold the tiebreaker over the Golden Knights, as Dallas won two of their three matchups earlier in the regular season.
Dallas will look to end its current losing streak on Saturday at 8 p.m. when it faces the Utah Hockey Club.