DALLAS, TEXAS — The stage has been set for Round 2 of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Dallas Stars opening the series on the road to face the Winnipeg Jets.
Both teams secured their second-round berths with intense Game 7 comeback victories in the third period while trailing.
While Mikko Rantanen carried the Stars on his back to secure a victory against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche—finishing the night with a hat trick—it was Cole Perfetti for the Jets who tied Game 7 with just 1.6 seconds left in regulation before captain Adam Lowry netted the game-winner in double overtime.
Now the Stars prepare for their upcoming road trip with one goal in mind: beating the Jets.
“They won the Presidents’ Trophy, you know, that’s real. They earned all those things. It’s on us to prove that we can play with them and beat them,” said Stars head coach Pete DeBoer.
It’s no secret that Dallas had a difficult time playing Winnipeg in the regular season, posting a 1–3 record. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger has not won on the road in Winnipeg since Nov. 28, 2023.
While the Stars have struggled in Winnipeg, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck also showed signs of vulnerability in the first round, allowing 26 goals—the second-most in a playoff series in his career—and was pulled three times.
Behind Oettinger in the Stars goalie room is Casey DeSmith, who acknowledged the team’s lack of regular-season success in Winnipeg but is hopeful for a road victory.
“There are some elements that could be tough for us to overcome,” DeSmith said. “But we’re playing the best hockey we’ve played in months. There’s a lot of positive energy in this room after what happened the other night. We feel like something special is brewing here.”
DeBoer said there were no updates on the status of defenseman Miro Heiskanen or forward Jason Robertson, both considered “status quo” with a potential to return in Round 2 pending clearance from doctors.
“I’ve got enough to worry about with the 20 guys that are playing for us on any given night,” DeBoer said. “When they become part of that group, that becomes my real concern.”
Game 1 is set for Wednesday, May 7, at 8:30 p.m. Central time at Canada Life Centre.
