The Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets series took a turn after a controversial goal launched a three-goal third period and turned a 2-2 game into a lopsided 5-2 Stars victory in Game 3. The Stars struggled against the Jets in the regular season. Yet, Mikko Rantanen’s historic playoff tear was finally met with contributions from some unlikely teammates that flipped this series in Dallas’ favour.
Original Stars vs. Jets Series Outlook and Review
Dallas lost three of the four regular-season meetings. However, the Stars entered this second-round series as the betting favourite. Much of that was likely influenced by a series win over Colorado, Rantanen’s recent play, and Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s struggles on the road in Round 1.
Winning the series will require Dallas to end some recent trends, and the Stars have proven they’re up for the task. The first was stealing a game on the road, and they did that quickly. Dallas got some crucial bounces to go its way and a second straight hat trick from Rantanen. It all led to handing Winnipeg its first home loss of the playoffs in Game 1. That win also ended an eight-game losing streak in series openers.
Hellebuyck and the Jets responded with a 4-0 shutout win in Game 2 to even the series. Still, Dallas had already swung home-ice advantage by coming up with the road win. If you’ve been to a game at the American Airlines Center, you know how much of a difference that can make.
Dallas settled into Game 3 with early power plays and quickly converted on a Wyatt Johnston goal. However, the teams battled to a 2-2 tie through two periods. Kyle Connor and Nino Niederreiter continued to be thorns in Dallas’ side. But momentum swung Dallas’ way in the third period.
Controversial Goal from an Unlikely Source Changes the Game
Until Sunday, Thomas Harley was the only Stars defenceman to score a goal in the playoffs. That all changed around the 3:51 mark in the third period. The puck went off Alex Petrovic’s skate and Hellebuyck’s stick and into the net. The play went to review and was eventually upheld. The officials ruled that the goal was good because Hellebuyck’s effort “propelled” the puck into the net, not Petrovic’s kick.
“The puck was kicked but [Connor Hellebuyck] directed it into the net,” Jets head coach Scott Arniel said postgame (quote from an email from Stars PR/Communications). “The rule states that if the puck gets kicked if it hits a body or a stick of anybody else other than the goaltender, it counts as a goal. It hit our goaltender’s stick and went in the net. That is no goal. So, they said that [Hellebuyck] propelled the puck in, and I haven’t seen the word ‘propel’ in the rule book.”
Dallas head coach Pete Deboer saw it differently (and why wouldn’t he when it benefits his team). — same quote source
“Well, I’m not sure that’s how the rule reads,” DeBoer said. “I think the rule reads that if the goalie’s making a play on the puck, it’s a goal. That’s the difference. Is it just deflected off of him, or is he trying to make a play with the puck? I think they got it right.”
Into the Rule Book
The rule actually does not specify the protocol when the goalie tries to make a play on a kicked puck. It only acknowledges that “a kicked puck that deflects off the body of any player on either team (including the goalkeeper) shall be ruled no goal” and “a kicked puck that deflects off the stick of any player (excluding the goalkeeper’s stick) shall be ruled a good goal.” (It DOES use the word “propel,” but only in reference to the kicking player.)
In this case, Hellebuyck tried to make a play on the puck, and it deflected off his stick into the net. While the ruling makes sense logically, the verbiage of the rule leaves too much gray area for such a critical play in a tight series.
Delay Fallout and Finishing Touches
It took so long to get the decision that almost all of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” was played over the arena speakers before an announcement was made. It was a pivotal decision that took too long. The players on both sides may have been affected by the long pause. Plus, it changed the game since it could’ve gone either way.
Rantanen once again found the back of the net less than a minute after Petrovic’s goal to widen the lead to a two-goal margin. It felt like the game was over immediately. Johnston added a second goal to ensure a 5-2 win.
A 2-1 Stars’ lead is not what many expected through three games in this series. The head-to-head regular season results indicated Winnipeg was the better team. But here we are. By stealing that first road game and protecting its home ice, Dallas has a chance to push Winnipeg to the brink of elimination on Tuesday.
The game will also be in front of the home crowd in Dallas. The Stars could take a 3-1 series lead — one win away from advancing to a third straight Western Conference Final. Plus, even a loss in Winnipeg would give them a chance to finish the job on home ice later in the week. It’s all because they found a way to win the must-have games early in the series.
Can they carry the momentum they’ve built into Stars vs. Jets Game 4?
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The post Stars vs. Jets Series Flips on Controversial Goal appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.