Dallas @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 19, 2019 ) Winnipeg 2, Dallas 4

The Winnipeg Jets have seized control of the Central Division with seven games left in the regular season, and enter Monday’s home contest against the Dallas Stars after arguably their best performance of the season. The Jets dominated division-rival Nashville 5-0 on Saturday and the two Connors led the way, as forward Kyle Connor posted his first career hat trick while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck authored his second shutout in two starts.

“They were phenomenal,” Hellebuyck told the media in describing his team’s performance, as the Jets won for the fifth time in six games to extend their division lead over Nashville to four points. “They were getting their sticks on everything, they were blocking shots, they were controlling the pace of play.” The Stars completed a disappointing 1-3-1 homestand with a 3-2 loss Saturday to Pittsburgh, the fourth time in five games Dallas failed to score more than two goals. Centers Tyler Seguin and Andrew Cogliano scored for the Stars, who allowed a shorthanded goal early in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie but still hold the top wild-card spot in a crowded Western Conference race. “Not good enough, that’s what the bottom line is,” Cogliano told reporters afterward. “You can’t take moral victories at this point in the season. You just need to get points.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE STARS (38-31-6): Dallas scored four goals in a victory over Florida on Tuesday, but mustered only six goals total in the other four games on its homestand. Seguin has 11 points (nine assists) in his past nine games and leads the Stars in goals (29), assists (42) and points (71), while Cogliano snapped a 20-game goal drought with his fifth of the season. Goaltender Ben Bishop did not play Saturday, but has won six of his past seven games with a .973 save percentage in that stretch.

ABOUT THE JETS (45-26-4): Connor recorded four points Saturday and now has a career-high 32 goals on the season - after scoring 31 as a rookie in 2017-18 - with eight points in his past four games. Center Kevin Hayes finished with a goal and three assists Saturday, giving him four goals and six assists in 13 games since being acquired from the New York Rangers. The Jets peppered Nashville for 43 shots on goal Saturday - 35 coming in the final two periods - and Winnipeg did not take a penalty in the game.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas begins a four-game road trip Monday and will play five of its last seven games away from home, beginning the stretch drive with games at division leaders (Winnipeg and Calgary).

2. Hellebuyck has allowed one goal on 90 shots in his past three starts.

3. Seguin tallied a goal with an assist in the last meeting between the two teams, a 4-2 Dallas victory at home on Jan. 19 that gave the Stars a 2-1 lead in the season series.

PREDICTION: Jets 3, Stars 1