Jets score six in second half to beat Stars

The Winnipeg Jets erased a deficit and took control of the game in the second period, scoring five times to defeat the Dallas Stars 8-3 on Thursday night. The victory extends Winnipeg’s winning streak to five games and marks the first time Dallas has allowed eight goals in a decade.

Mark Scheifele contributed two goals and an assist for the Jets. Dawson Mercer recorded his second consecutive two-goal game, adding to the offensive output. Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi each posted a goal and two assists. Dylan Samberg and Cole Koepke also found the back of the net for Winnipeg. Goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots to secure the win.

The Stars found themselves trailing late in the second period after David Perron scored his first goal since signing as a free agent on Oct. 15. At 13:55 of the period, Mercer, acquired from New Jersey on Oct. 25, scored to start a three-goal run for the visitors. Mercer capped the surge with a goal with 7.3 seconds remaining in the period.

Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger allowed a season-high six goals on 27 shots. The coach pulled him from the net with one minute left in the third period. Casey DeSmith finished the game and gave up two goals on two shots within 15 seconds of each other.

The defensive lapse for Dallas represents a rare struggle for the team. The last time the Stars allowed eight goals was an 8-2 loss at Winnipeg on Nov. 8, 2016. This defeat ends a short rest period for Dallas, which had played its last game on Saturday.

Both teams had one goal disallowed during the contest. Winnipeg’s goal was ruled offside, while Dallas’ goal was negated due to a kicking motion. The disallowed goal against the Stars erased an assist that would have given captain Jamie Benn his 1,000th career point.

The Stars begin a stretch of three home games in four days with a matchup against Buffalo on Saturday night. The Jets travel to Chicago for their next contest on Saturday.