Slumping Jets focus on positives despite 4-3 setback to visiting Stars

By Canadian Press on December 10, 2025.

WINNIPEG — Mark Scheifele is going to focus on what went right rather than another loss for the Winnipeg Jets.

Scheifele scored twice in a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, a game in which the Jets battled back after being down 3-0 early in the second period.

Maybe it was the rest from two days in-between their last game, or the line juggling that head coach Scott Arniel did that made him feel the Jets played “great.”

“It’s nice being in your own bed. It’s nice being at home on your home ice,” Scheifele said. “Who knows what it was, but you just have to look back on that game and reflect on what went well and keep doing that.”

Logan Stanley also had a goal and Kyle Connor picked up a pair of assists for Winnipeg (14-14-1). Eric Comrie stopped 15 shots for the squad that is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games and began a four-game homestand.

Jason Robertson scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season and Mikko Rantanen contributed three assists as the Stars extended their points streak to 11 games (9-0-2).

“We got pucks deep, we had a good forecheck,” Scheifele said. “We didn’t give them a lot of time and space.

“Our (defence) were gapping up really well, which made it tough for them to make any plays. So a lot of guys played really good.”

The Jets had a power play with 2:30 left in the third period, but couldn’t get the equalizer after pulling Comrie.

“That’s an opportunity where we need to get one, or at least get some opportunities or get some chances,” Scheifele said. “It sucked that we didn’t.”

Esa Lindell, Roope Hintz and Alexander Petrovic also scored for the Stars (21-5-5). Wyatt Johnston contributed a pair of helpers and backup Casey DeSmith stopped 30 shots.

Heading into the match, Arniel had rejigged all four of his lines to try to spark more secondary scoring. That included moving winger Gabriel Vilardi off the top line with Connor and Scheifele and putting Alex Iafallo into his spot.

“I really liked a lot of what happened tonight, but I still think there’s more (to give) from other people,” Arniel said. “We’re a team, we’re 20 guys, everybody has to be pulling their weight.”

The coach thought his team defended better, especially knowing the way Dallas has been playing.

“You’d like these steps against that opponent to be a win,” Arniel said. “But at the end of the day, I can’t knock the guys and the work ethic. The compete was there. I knew it was going to have to be, but we have to do that against Boston (on Thursday).

“We can’t just do that against Dallas because they’re in our division. It has to be a constant from everybody, and that’s what I’m going to try to harp on for the next couple days here.”

Dallas scored twice on its four power-play chances, while Winnipeg came up empty in its four tries with the man advantage.

“That was a heck of a game from us and to give up two (penalty-kill) goals, it’s the difference,” Arniel said.

Winnipeg has now allowed a power-play goal in six consecutive games, extending a season-long streak.

“The pressure they have and they put on you, you have to move quick and things have to happen fast,” Arniel said. “I thought there were times we did it. There were some looks there but, again, obviously getting into the zone was tough.”

Stanley’s goal, assisted by Vilardi, was the fourth of the season for the big defenceman, who also has six assists through 29 games.

He also came away feeling positive about the team’s effort, especially when they were down 3-0.

“Yeah, the score is 3-0, but we didn’t feel like we were out of the game,” Stanley said. “We thought we were playing well and we missed some chances early and they capitalized on a couple mistakes.

“So we thought we were right in it, and I thought we did a good job responding.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2025.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press