Heiskanen pass wins Stars game

The Dallas Stars defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night. Miro Heiskanen recorded the decisive assist, while Roope Hintz scored the winning goal at 3:47 of the extra period.

The game reached overtime after a back-and-forth scoring sequence in regulation. Johnston opened the scoring for Winnipeg early in the second period. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor later tied the game for the Jets. Hintz then equalized for Dallas on a six-on-five power play with two minutes remaining in regulation. The teams played to a draw until the overtime period began.

The winning play started with a defensive stop by Jason Robertson. Heiska reported that a turnover by Robertson initially created a scoring chance for Winnipeg. Robertson blocked that shot to regain possession. Heiskanen immediately passed the puck to Hintz, who completed the breakaway for the game winner.

The Stars relied heavily on their top two defensemen during the contest. Esa Lindell was scratched for the game. Heiskanen played 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Thomas Harley logged 28 minutes and 27 seconds. Lian Bichsel played 17 minutes and 47 seconds. Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Myers, and Kyle Capobianco also appeared on the ice.

Dallas controlled the puck possession but faced a strong goaltending performance. The Stars outshot the Jets 38-19. Winnipeg goaltender Skinner made 35 saves. Heiskanen finished the game with five shots, one block, and the winning assist. Harley finished without a goal.

The team did not announce a return date for Lindell following his absence. The current defensive rotation remained unchanged for the immediate future. The Stars secured the win with a single finish in overtime.