Dallas Stars keep responding in NHL playoffs, now top-seeded Jets have to win Game 4 to get even

Stars coach Pete DeBoer says this is the best response team he has had in Dallas

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:58am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game between the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in the teams' official colors representing the intensity of the playoff matchup.The Dallas Stars' resilience and adaptability have been on full display as they battle the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in the NHL playoffs.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars have shown the ability to bounce back from losses in the NHL playoffs, including a 5-2 win over the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of their second-round series. The Stars have had to overcome injuries to key players like Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, but have found ways to win. Now the Jets must respond in Game 4 to even the series.

Why it matters

The Stars' resilience and ability to respond to adversity has been a key factor in their playoff success so far. Their performance demonstrates the importance of mental toughness and adaptability in the high-stakes environment of the NHL postseason.

The details

The Stars have had to adjust their defensive play since Miro Heiskanen's injury in January, and they were also without top goal scorer Jason Robertson in the first round against Colorado. Despite those challenges, the Stars have found ways to win, including two 4-0 losses that they followed up with big victories. In Game 3 against the Jets, the Stars got goals from defensemen Alexander Petrovic and Thomas Harley, and Mikko Rantanen continued his playoff scoring tear with a goal and two assists.

  • The Stars lead the Jets 2-1 in the second-round series.
  • Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 20 at 8 p.m. EDT.

The players

Pete DeBoer

The third-year head coach of the Dallas Stars, who has praised his team's ability to respond to adversity this postseason.

Miro Heiskanen

The standout defenseman for the Dallas Stars, who has been out since injuring his left knee on January 28.

Jason Robertson

The top goal scorer for the Dallas Stars, who missed the first round of the playoffs against Colorado.

Mikko Rantanen

The Dallas Stars forward who is having a dominant playoff run, with an NHL-high 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) through the first 10 games.

Scott Arniel

The head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, who is looking for his team to respond in Game 4 to even the series.

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What they’re saying

“It's the best response team that I've coached in my time here, coming off, not necessarily a poor effort, but a loss or maybe we're not as good as we could be, (and) rectifying that quickly.”

— Pete DeBoer, Dallas Stars Head Coach

“For sure. It's important. We need to get one on the road here.”

— Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets Forward

“We had, whatever it was, a two-, three-minute situation where they scored a couple of goals, but at the end of the day, hopefully some of the stuff we did, the offense we created, the chances that we had, help us feel good about what we can do in Game 4. And that's what we're going to have to do. ... We have to find ways to score more goals than them. We had looks.”

— Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets Head Coach

What’s next

The Winnipeg Jets must win Game 4 on Tuesday night to even the series and regain home-ice advantage.

The takeaway

The Dallas Stars' ability to respond to adversity and bounce back from losses has been a key factor in their playoff success so far. Their resilience and adaptability will be tested as they look to take a 3-1 series lead against the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.