Oettinger, Stars remain undefeated to start season, defeat Jets

DALLAS -- Jake Oettinger made 23 saves, and the Dallas Stars remained undefeated with their season-opening third straight win, 4-1 against the Winnipeg Jets at American Airlines Center on Monday.

"I didn't love our start, our first 10 minutes," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "I thought we worked into the game. I thought we got better as the game went on. Obviously, Jake made some saves in order to allow us to kind of work into it, some key saves at key moments."
Oettinger has allowed three goals on 87 shots in three games to start the season, including a 4-1 win Thursday and a 5-1 victory Saturday, both against the Nashville Predators.
"He's a good, young goaltender and if you don't get enough traffic, you don't crash the net for second, third opportunities, if he sees stuff, he's going to stop it," Jets associate coach Scott Arniel said.
Tyler Seguin had a goal, and Mason Marchment had two assists for Dallas (3-0-0).
"Our opportunities this year just feel a little different," Seguin said. "Lot more on the rush. Just playing a lot quicker. Our [defense] are really moving that puck up quick and our forwards are getting open and it's hard to stop."

Mark Scheifele scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for Winnipeg (1-1-0).
The Jets were coached by Arniel after Rick Bowness tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, prior to their season-opening 4-1 win against the New York Rangers. Bowness, who was hired as coach July 3, resigned as Stars coach May 20.
Scheifele gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead at 3:28 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the left face-off dot off a pass from Kyle Connor.
Seguin tied it 1-1 at 10:20 when Ty Dellandrea retrieved the puck out of the corner and found him backdoor.
"First period, I thought it was pretty even," Jets forward Adam Lowry said. "In the second period, they started playing with more speed, more transition. We didn't have an answer for it. That's something we take a look at and see where we can improve in the neutral zone and managing pucks and things like that. Maybe be a little more direct."
Jani Hakanpää gave Dallas a 2-1 lead at 15:38 of the second period with a slap shot from the right point through a screen.
"They transition well," Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "They track hard. They don't give you a whole lot through the neutral zone. We had a hard time establishing our forecheck in the second period and it fit into their strengths. It's a learning opportunity for us."

Joel Kiviranta extended it to 3-1 at 17:28 on a one-timer from the right circle, and Miro Heiskanen scored on a power play at 8:12 of the third period when his point shot went in off Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon for the 4-1 final.
"We have a good feeling in the room," Kiviranta said. "I think everyone likes the way we play hockey and everyone is buying in."
NOTES:Dellandra's assist was his first NHL point since March 21, 2021. … It was Scheifele's 44th career game-opening goal, the most for the Jets since his NHL debut in 2011-12. … Stars defenseman Ryan Suter played his 1,283 NHL game, tying him with Ken Daneyko for 20th on the all-time games played list among defensemen.