Braden Holtby gets the start in key matchup against the Jets

Stars (30-20-3, 63 points) vs. Jets (24-21-9, 57 points)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- The Stars are 16-5-3 in one-goal games this year.
That's impressive.
It's especially relevant when you consider the Stars and Winnipeg Jets have gone past regulation in all three games this season. Dallas led the NHL with 14 overtime/shootout losses last season but has found a way to go 9-3 in games past regulation this season.
Much of that is because of the improvement of Jake Oettinger in goal, but there also has been improved team play and the health of key players like Tyler Seguin to help in overtime.
All of that said, they also are just a better team right now under pressure.
"It's just that comfort level of playing in them," Joe Pavelski said of the fact many of the games this season have been tight at the end. "It's having an understanding that at this time of the year there are going to be a lot of one-goal games and guys need to step up. Lately, we've got a lot of contributions up and down the lineup, and that goes a long way."

In recent games, Dallas has received key goals from Michael Raffl, Luke Glendening, Alexander Radulov and Ryan Suter. That makes a difference. And winning games in overtime and the shootout are huge, as well. Dallas last season had some hard luck on great scoring chances in overtime, and Bowness said that hurt the record.
We had some games last year that we could have won in overtime, so I don't think it was as bad as it looked," Bowness said. "This year, the puck is going in the net in overtime."
That should be a key against the Jets.
"They're evenly matched teams," Bowness said. "The goaltenders have been good and there's very little separating these two teams. One-goal games or going into overtime or a shootout, it's not a surprise, and it's important that we prepare our players that way."
Winnipeg currently sits six points behind the Stars in the race for a playoff spot and could really use a win in this game. The Stars are 12-4-1 in their past 17. The Jets have won their past two but are 7-9-4 in their past 20.
"Every game is important, you have to keep winning, keep climbing," Pavelski said. "There's no comfort level to where we're at."

What to watch

Braden Holtby will be back in net for the first time since Feb. 13, a 4-0 loss to Colorado.
Holtby has been battling nagging injuries, but Oettinger has also been fantastic while starting the past seven games. Holtby sits 9-10-1 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .912 save percentage and has been using the practice time to get himself up and running.
"He hasn't played for a while, but he's feeling good," Bowness said. "He's had a couple of good practices and with the schedule we have, it's important he plays."
Asked if Holtby is better now because of the down time while addressing his injuries, Bowness said "Yeah, he needed some time, there's no question. He needed some time to get back to 100 percent."
Holtby was signed as a free agent in the offseason, and he and Oettinger have forged a good bond this year. It's one reason Bowness said he feels good with both goalies playing.
"Holtby has been good for Jake," Bowness said. "Braden is a wonderful teammate and is very supportive. Braden works very hard in practice, and so does Jake. They're good for each other."

Lineup update

Both Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen missed morning skate because they were feeling under the weather.
They're listed as game-time decisions.
Dallas has forwards Riley Tufte and Marián Studenič, as well as defenseman Joel Hanley as possible replacements.
Here is a possible lineup:
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Seguin-Gurianov
Raffl-Faksa-Glendening
Kiviranta-Peterson-Radulov
Suter-Heiskanen
Harley-Klingberg
Lindell-Hakanpaa
Holtby
Oettinger

Numbers

71 percent

Winnipeg ranks 29th in home penalty kill at 71 percent. The Jets are ninth in road penalty kill success at 80.6 percent. Dallas ranks ninth in road power-play success at 23.2 percent.

32

Kyle Connor ranks fifth in the NHL with 32 goals. He ranks 10th in points with 61 in 54 games.

39

Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele has 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) and is plus-13 in 32 career games against the Stars.

He said it

"We've been aggressive. They scored Wednesday], but we've been trying to be aggressive on their entries, give them as little time as possible. When they don't get set up right away, that helps. You want to win that faceoff and get it down and make them regroup. We didn't do that, but that's what we've been doing recently." *-- Glendening on the Stars' improved penalty kill*
*This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.*
***[Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika*.