Dallas Stars Beat Winnipeg 3-2 on Late Hintz Goal
Miro Heiskanen's 29-minute shift ended with a decisive outlet pass that sent Roope Hintz in alone for the overtime winner.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Dallas Stars fans left American Airlines Center with a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, a result secured by a single breakaway goal in overtime. The win capped a night where defensive depth was tested and scoring was scarce despite a heavy offensive effort.
The deciding moment came at 3:47 of the extra period. Jason Robertson blocked a Winnipeg shot to preserve the tie, and Miro Heiskanen immediately converted that defensive stop into an attack. Heiskanen sent Roope Hintz in alone, and Hintz finished the play to give Dallas the lead.
Heiskanen finished the game without a goal, but his workload was the defining factor for the Stars' back end. With Esa Lindell scratched from the lineup, Heiskanen played 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Thomas Harley logged 28 minutes and 27 seconds, making the two the clear anchors of the defensive unit for the night.
The remainder of the defensive corps saw much less time. Lian Bichsel played 17 minutes and 47 seconds, while Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Myers, and Kyle Capobianco shared the remaining shifts. These figures indicate a heavy reliance on the top pairing to carry the defensive load in Lindell's absence.
Dallas did not control the scoreboard for the entire contest. Winnipeg took an early lead in the second period when John Johnston scored. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor then answered to put the Jets ahead again. The Stars trailed until Hintz scored a six-on-five power play goal with two minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime.
The offensive disparity was evident in the shot count. The Stars outshot the Jets 38 to 19, but Winnipeg goalie Connor Skinner made 35 saves to keep the game close. Heiskanen recorded five shots, one block, and the winning assist. Harley went scoreless, but both defensemen contributed to the defensive stops that allowed the offense to function.
The game did not reveal a long-term solution to the Lindell absence, as no return date or permanent rotation change was announced. The Stars completed the immediate task, relying on extended ice time for their top two defensemen to secure the win.
