Heiskanen's Late Assist Carries Stars Past Jets in Overtime

Miro Heiskanen delivered the decisive pass on Thursday night, sending Roope Hintz to the empty net for a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at American Airlines Center. Hintz scored on a breakaway with 3:47 remaining in overtime to end the game.

The winning play began with a defensive stand by Jason Robertson. He blocked a scoring attempt by Winnipeg, and Heiskanen immediately moved the puck forward. The quick transition shifted momentum from defense to offense, allowing Hintz to finish the rush.

Heiskanen played 29 minutes and 20 seconds, the highest ice time on the team. He was the only Dallas defenseman to log that many minutes because Esa Lindell was scratched from the lineup. Thomas Harley played 28 minutes and 27 seconds, while Lian Bichsel had 17 minutes and 47 seconds.

Dallas struggled to convert its offensive dominance into early leads. The Stars outshot Winnipeg 38-19 for the game, yet they trailed for much of the contest. Connor Johnston scored early in the second period, and Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor added goals to put the Jets ahead.

Dallas closed the gap in the final minutes of regulation. Hintz scored a shorthanded goal with two minutes left to tie the game at 2-2. Despite the 38-19 shot advantage, the Stars could not break through the Winnipeg netminder earlier in the game.

Conrad Skinner made 35 saves to keep the Jets within striking distance. He forced Dallas to work for every goal despite the overwhelming number of shots faced. The high save total neutralized the Stars' statistical edge for most of the regulation period.

Heiskanen finished with five shots on goal, one blocked shot, and the winning assist. Harley did not record a goal. The final scoreline reflected a single decisive moment rather than a cumulative effort from the defensive unit.