Dallas (3-1) at Winnipeg (1-3)
- When: May 15 2025, 9:30 PM
- Where: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB, CAN
- TV: TNT
Stars vs. Jets – Game 5 Preview and Prediction
Moneyline: Winnipeg -125 | Total: 5.5
Winnipeg Jets Analysis
The Winnipeg Jets find themselves in a must-win situation as they prepare to host the Dallas Stars for Game 5. Down 3-1 in the series, the Jets know they need to generate more offense if they want to extend their playoff run.
The series began with a split in Winnipeg, but the Jets stumbled in Dallas, managing just three goals combined in Games 3 and 4. Despite averaging 3.35 goals per game in the regular season tied for third-best in the NHL they’ve struggled to find the back of the net against a sharp Jake Oettinger.
In Game 4, Winnipeg launched 32 shots on goal, missed the target 20 times, and had 18 shots blocked. Despite that effort, only one puck slipped past Oettinger during their 3-1 loss.
Head coach Scott Arniel emphasized the need for grittier play around the net. “If we can’t find more than one goal, we’re not going to win hockey games, especially against this hockey team,” Arniel stated. “You put up 70 attempts, you’ve got to get rewarded, but that means you’ve got to work a little harder if it’s not going in.”
The Jets have also struggled mightily on the power play, going just 1-for-16 (6.25%) in the series after finishing the regular season as the league’s best at 28.9%. Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored Winnipeg’s only goal in Game 4, noted that the Jets need to match Dallas’s physicality. “They’re hard on the puck, and we need to be harder,” Ehlers said. “That’s where we created a lot of chances throughout the regular season.”
Dallas Stars Analysis
The Dallas Stars enter Game 5 with momentum and a healthy roster for the first time in months. Top defenseman Miro Heiskanen made his return in Game 4 after missing time with a knee injury, bolstering a defensive unit that already stifled Winnipeg’s offense.
Goalie Jake Oettinger has been a brick wall, holding the Jets to just three goals in the last two games. “We feel like when we have everyone, we’re going to be a tough out,” Oettinger said. “We got all our guys back healthy, and different guys are stepping up every night.”
The Stars are also thrilled to have their leading goal scorer, Jason Robertson, back on the ice after missing the first round against Colorado. Coach Pete DeBoer is confident his squad, now fully assembled, is peaking at the right time. “That was the first night we’ve actually had our full team together,” DeBoer said of Game 4. “If we can keep everybody healthy, I like our chances.”
Dallas’s recent acquisitions have paid dividends as well. Mikko Rantanen posted a hat trick in Game 1, and Mikael Granlund followed suit with three goals in Game 4. The Stars’ depth and balance are proving to be a nightmare for Winnipeg’s defense.
Game 5 Prediction:
Winnipeg will come out with desperation at home, but Dallas’s depth and defensive structure, paired with Oettinger’s strong play, will be too much. Expect the Stars to close out the series with a 3-2 win.
Score Prediction: Stars 3, Jets 2
Best Bet: Dallas ML (+105)
Total: Under 5.5 (-115)
- NHL Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
