Dallas Stars take Game 1 in the Second Round Series against the Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets vs. Stars (GAME 1)

The Dallas Stars won Game 1 in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on May 7, 2025. This matchup took place at the Canada Life Centre and ended with a final score of 3-2 in the Stars’ favor. Read about what led to the Stars’ Game 1 win, the standout players of each team, stats, and when their next game is scheduled! 

Game Recap

The first period remained scoreless after the exceptional goaltending efforts by Jets’ #37 Connor Hellebuyck and Stars’ #29 Jake Oettinger. The Jets had two power play chances to break the scoreless standstill on the man-advantage, however, the Stars’ stellar penalty kill unit remained strong and helped #29 Oettinger to keep it a scoreless first period (0-0).

The Jets broke the scoreless standstill with an early goal scored by #52 Nino Niederreiter within three minutes of the second period (1-0). The Stars answered back quickly with a game-tying goal scored by #96 Mikko Rantenen which made it a 1-1 game. After killing off a Jets power play opportunity, #96 Rantanen completed his second hat-trick of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs which ultimately helped to extend the Stars’ lead by two-goals (3-1). Jets’ #55 Mark Scheifele was able to cut the team’s goal deficit after his wrist shot slipped past #29 Oettinger in the last three minutes of the second period. This last goal by #55 Scheifele ended the second period with a score of 3-2 in the Stars’ favor.

Although both teams had great scoring chances, the team’s goaltenders remained solid and kept the third period scoreless. Similar to the first round Game 7 matchup between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, the hat-trick secured by #96 Rantanen and the impressive goaltending performance by #29 Oettinger helped the Stars to gain their series lead in the second round of the playoffs.

The standout players

Dallas Stars

• Forward: #96 Mikko Rantanen scored all 3 Stars goals of this game

• Defensemen: #55 Thomas Harley and #46 Ilya Lyubushkin both ended the game with 1 assist

• Goaltender: #29 Jake Oettinger had a save percentage of 0.935% after he saved 29 out of 31 shots on goal

Winnipeg Jets

• Forward: #52 Nino Niederreiter and #55 Mark Scheifele scored the two Jets goals of this game

• Defensemen: # Haydn Fleury assisted one of the Jets goals 

• Goaltender: #37 Connor Hellebuyck had a save percentage of 0.875% after he saved 21 out of 24 shots on goal

Stats

• The Jets outshot the Stars (31 SOG vs. 24 SOG)

• The Jets delivered more hits than the Stars (46 hits vs. 24 hits)

• The Stars won more faceoffs than the Jets (54.3% vs 45.7%) 

• The Stars had a higher power play success rate than the Jets (50 PP% vs. 0 PP%)

SUMMARY: The Stars successful power play and penalty kill unit as well as their solid goaltending helped them to secure their Game 1 win despite the Jets maintaining puck possession and playing a more physical game.

Upcoming Games

GAME 2

• When: May 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST

• Where: Canada Life Centre

• Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, Max

GAME 3

• When: May 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM PST

• Where: American Airlines Center 

• Watch: TBS, truTV, Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

GAME 4

• When: May 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM PST

• Where: American Airlines Center 

• Watch: ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS

NOTE: Games 5-7 are TBD for each team as they will be scheduled if necessary

GAME 5

• When: May 15, 2025 at TBD PST

• Where: Canada Life Centre

• Watch: TNT, truTV, Max, TVAS

GAME 6

• When: May 17, 2025 at TBD PST

• Where: American Airlines Center

• Watch: TVAS

GAME 7

• When: May 19, 2025 at TBD PST

• Where: Canada Life Centre

• Watch: ESPN, TVAS

The Dallas Stars lead 1-0 in round two of the playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets

Who do you think is going to win Game 2?

Comment down below!