Jets score five goals in second, surge past Stars for fifth straight win

DALLAS -- The Winnipeg Jets scored five goals in the second period en route to their fifth straight win, 8-3 against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Thursday.

“The biggest thing for me over these last five games is the confidence now is back,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “We’re holding onto pucks, creating space for the next guy. Then guys are shooting when they get the opportunity. That’s the feeling that you want to have all the time.”

Mark Scheifele had two goals and an assist, Dawson Mercer scored twice in his second straight game, and Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and two assists for the Jets (9-8-3). Stuart Skinner made 30 saves.

Scheifele reached 929 points (378 goals, 551 assists) in the NHL and tied Dale Hawerchuk for the most in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise history.

“We were playing fast,” Scheifele said. “We didn’t give them a whole lot of space. We made it hard on them to be able to create anything. We played fast. We played very cohesive, and we’re a tough team when we play like that.”

Roope Hintz had a goal and an assist, and Arttu Hyry also scored for the Stars (10-6-2), who had their four-game point streak come to an end (3-0-1). Jake Oettinger allowed six goals on 27 shots before being replaced one minute into the third period by Casey DeSmith, who allowed two goals on three shots in relief.

“We played good in the first,” Oettinger said. “Kind of looked like we thought they were just going to roll over and let us win. Obviously, a good team over there with a lot of skill, a lot of high-end guys. It’s obviously not the case, and we learned that.”

Hyry gave Dallas a 1-0 lead at 4:19 of the first period, sending a one-timer in blocker side off a pass from Hintz.

“It’s a lot of want and desire, but channeling that want and desire the wrong way,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “We self-inflicted most of that stuff against a team that’s actually in the last few games executing at a high level. Their power play, their top guys are executing at a high level, but we opened the door for them to execute some plays.”

Hintz extended it to 2-0 at 18:32 on the breakaway. He put a backhand shot through the five-hole of Skinner after a lead pass from Jason Robertson.

Samberg scored the first of Winnipeg’s five second-period goals to cut it to 2-1 at 1:11, a point shot past Oettinger’s glove.

“It was incredible,” Scheifele said. “We kind of just got to work. Got on their (defense), had good sticks. Kind of started moving the way we like to, and from there, we were able to create a lot. It was a great period.”

Scheifele tied it 2-2 at 7:03 after gathering a rebound in the low slot and snapping a shot glove side.

David Perron gave Dallas a 3-2 lead at 11:14 off a deflection, his first goal with the Stars after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract on Oct. 16 to play in his 20th NHL season.

Mercer tied it 3-3 at 13:55. Cole Perfetti relayed a pass to Mercer, who snapped it in glove side.

“I thought we were putting pucks behind them and playing the right way,” Perfetti said. “Allowing ourselves to play with that skill that we have. At times, I think we don’t do that, and that’s kind of when we get stuck and not creating. But when we play the right way and play committed as a team, line after line, then we’re able to go out there and make those plays.”

Scheifele scored on the power play at 18:12 to give Winnipeg its first lead at 4-3 with a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Vilardi.

Mercer’s second goal extended it to 5-3 with nine seconds remaining in the period after finishing on a 2-on-1 rush.

“I liked that line tonight,” Arniel said. “They did a really good job, the three of them. There’s some chemistry building ... real nice play at the end of the period with (Perfetti) and him taking off. He’s confident now.”

Connor pushed it to 6-3 at 1:00 of the third period with a snap shot from the bottom of the right circle.

Vilardi made it 7-3 at 15:12, and Cole Koepke scored 14 seconds later for the 8-3 final.

“I think you have to look in the mirror,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said. “Obviously a pretty ugly night. Unacceptable.”

NOTES: Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo left in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Arniel said he is week to week. … Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel left in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Gulutzan said Bichsel will not play in either of Dallas’ games this weekend. … Scheifele recorded his 551st career assist, surpassing both Blake Wheeler and Dale Hawerchuk for second most in franchise history, behind only Thomas Steen (553).