The Stars are running out of runway in their chase for the top spot in the Central Division, but they’ve added some serious firepower for the stretch run. Newly acquired Mikko Rantanen, playing his third game since the trade deadline, gives Dallas another offensive weapon as they take on the first-place Jets in a crucial matchup Friday night in Winnipeg.
How to watch: Puck drop at 7 p.m. from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Watch on Victory+ and listen to the radio call on The Ticket.
The race for the Central Division is still within reach for Dallas as the Stars (42-20-2) trail the Jets (45-17-4) by 8 points in the standing with two games in hand. With just 18 games remaining in the regular season, the result Friday could go a long way in deciding the division winner.
What’s at stake?
Currently, if the playoffs ended today, the Stars would be the No. 2 seed in the division and face No. 3 Colorado in the first round, while the No. 1 Jets get the wild-card matchup with the Calgary Flames. Usually, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all records are thrown out the window and it’s not uncommon to have upsets. But playing a team like the Avs, with Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and a revamped roster, instead of the Flames – the team with the fewest goals in the NHL – in the opening round could make or break a post-season run.
The Stars have done their part lately, winning eight of their last 10 games, averaging 4.7 goals while giving up just 2.9 goals per game during that stretch. Stars forward Jason Robertson has scored nine goals and added six assists over the last 10 games.
Newly acquired Mikko Rantanen, who the Stars obtained via trade with Carolina in a deadline deal, has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time in his first two appearances with Dallas. Rantanen has scored goals in both games, including an empty netter in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Vancouver. He’s tracking toward his third consecutive 100-point season, even after an unremarkable 13-game stretch in Carolina.
The Stars and Jets meet Friday for the third of four meetings this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 3-1 on Dec. 1, 2024, while the Jets captured a 4-1 win in November. Dallas has fared well (13-4-1) against divisional opponents and has a 17-4-0 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Mikko Rantanen (96)
Jason Robertson (21) – Matt Duchene (95) – Mikael Granlund (64)
Mason Marchment (27) – Mavrik Bourque (22) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Oskar Bäck (10) – Sam Steel (18) – Colin Blackwell (15)
Thomas Harley (55) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)
Esa Lindell (23) – Cody Ceci (44)
Lian Bichsel (6) – Matt Dumba (46)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Casey DeSmith (1)
Stars lineup notes: Defenseman Lian Bichsel is questionable after missing Thursday’s practice due to feeling unwell. Dallas center Roope Hintz will miss his second-straight game after taking a puck to the face on Saturday against Edmonton. Hintz avoided a fracture but will miss a week.
Winnipeg Jets Lineup
Kyle Connor (81) – Mark Scheifele (55) – Gabriel Vilardi (13)
Nikolaj Ehlers (27) – Vladislav Namestnikov (7) – Cole Perfetti (91)
Nino Niederreiter (62) – Adam Lowry (17) – Mason Appleton (22)
Brandon Tanev (73) – Morgan Barron (36) – Alex Iafallo (9)
Josh Morrissey (44) – Dylan DeMelo (2)
Dylan Samberg (54) – Neal Pionk (4)
Haydn Fleur (24) – Luke Schenn (2)
Connor Hellebuyck (37)
Eric Comrie (28)
Players to watch
Stars forward Wyatt Johnston
While Johnston’s five-game goal streak came to an end Sunday in the 4-1 win over Vancouver, the Stars’ center will look to get back on track Friday. Fresh off of signing a five-year, $42 million contract last week, Johnston is expected Friday to play alongside Rantanen on the team’s top line.
Stars forward Evgenii Dadonov
Dadonov recorded an assist in Sunday’s win over the Canucks, marking his second straight game with a helper. All six of his most recent points have come on the road. The winger has 35 points and a plus-11 rating through 64 games.
Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi
Vilardi scored the game-winning goal on the power play in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Rangers. Vilardi is having a career-best season in 2024-25, playing on the top unit alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. Vilardi has recorded personal bests in goals (27), assists (33) and points (60). He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 10 games since the regular season resumed following the 4 Nations break.