Overtime thriller proves it: Close games belong to Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup playoffs

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) hugs Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) as Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) looks on after the Stars overtime victory in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

It took a little longer than anticipated, but no one in the 18,532 at the AAC Saturday night was complaining.

Dallas Stars players celebrate around goaltender Jake Oettinger after an overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Thomas Harley ripped a shot past Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck 1:33 into overtime in Game 6 to send the Dallas Stars to the Western Conference finals for the third year in a row. And for the second consecutive season, the Stars opponent will be the Edmonton Oilers, who took out Vegas in five games earlier this week.

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter (62) as Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) hugs goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) at left after the Stars overtime victory in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

This was the Stars’ toughest home win over the Jets, who got their first good road game of the playoffs from Hellebuyck. But it wasn’t enough to keep Dallas from winning its sixth straight at the AAC. Regardless, it’s Oilers and Stars — teams with a memorable playoff history — one more time around.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91), left wing Mason Marchment (27) and defenseman Cody Ceci (44) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

“I think we’ve got something special going on,’’ Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’re going to have to prove it again. You know we’ve been to this spot the last two years and haven’t taken the next step. So that’s the challenge.’’

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) hugs goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) after the Dallas Stars overtime victory in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

What’s different about this team? The Finnish Line led by Mikko Rantanen, still leading the playoffs in scoring, for one. And a steadiness throughout the lineup to handle the toughest of situations. The Stars were blown out five times (defeats by three goals or more) in the first two rounds. But put them in a tough spot, and watch them shine. In games decided either by one goal or two, Dallas is a spotless 6-0.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck reacts after Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley scored the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Yet at one stretch — one dangerously long stretch for the Stars — Dallas went more than 100 minutes without putting a puck past Hellebuyck from late Game 4 well into Game 6. That included the Jets’ 4-0 home shutout on Thursday but it carried well into the second period Saturday night where Winnipeg had taken a 1-0 lead on the strength of Mark Scheifele sliding a shot past Jake Oettinger early in the second period.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91), left wing Mason Marchment (27) and defenseman Cody Ceci (44) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Scheifele is the Jets’ forward who was victimized by a Jamie Benn punch in the final minutes of Game 5, something that became nothing but a moment in time after Scheifele learned Saturday morning that his father had passed away. Scheifele, who has been with the Winnipeg organization since 2011, told the team later in the day he would play as planned and he managed to set the tone with the first goal of the game. It was the 10th time in 13 postseason games that the Stars have surrendered the first goal. The fact that they came into the game with a 4-5 record while doing so meant that Game 6 was far from over.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91), defenseman Cody Ceci (44) and left wing Mason Marchment (27) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Sure enough the Stars tied things later in the second period when fourth-liner Sam Steel got his first goal of the playoffs. Hellebuyck stopped a Harley drive but kicked the rebound all the way out to the back of the right faceoff circle where Steel fired the puck past the Jets goalie to make it 1-1.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91) and defenseman Cody Ceci (44) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

The score remained tied headed into the third period. Both teams had some wild scoring chances even if that was not reflected in actual shots on goal (a 23-17 Winnipeg advantage at the end of regulation). Steel actually came close to taking his first goal up a level to Game 6 hero when he got the puck on a breakaway in the final seconds. Scheifele had to trip him at the blue line to prevent Steel from going in unattended against Hellebuyck with 14.8 seconds left to play.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91) and defenseman Cody Ceci (44) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Now it would have been an incredibly gutsy call to give Steel a penalty shot there although it was certainly close to meeting the criteria. In fact, ESPN’s Mark Messier said he thought it should have been a penalty shot for Steel. Steel wasn’t so sure.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley celebrates with center Tyler Seguin (91) and defenseman Cody Ceci (44) after beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

“It’s maybe a good thing,’’ Steel said. “I was a little tired, the ice was bad. So it’s good we got the power play.’’

Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment celebrates after Stars defenseman Thomas Harley bear Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

DeBoer said the club has had to rely on special teams and goaltending to win and that will remain the case. The Stars have excelled both with and without the man advantage despite being outscored in both series so far — 24-21 by the Avalanche and 14-13 by Winnipeg, even if the Jets lost the series 4-2.

A shot by Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley rips the net behind Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

On Saturday night, with Winnipeg facing elimination and the team playing to support Scheifele in a most difficult time, this wasn’t likely to be anything but a close game from the drop of the opening puck. Once it went to overtime, naturally, a one-goal game was the only option remaining.

Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) takes the puck away from Winnipeg Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) behind Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

And close games belong to the Stars in these Stanley Cup playoffs. Now all they have to do is maintain that poise against a team that has won eight of their last nine playoff games.

A Dallas Stars shot goes off the crossbar behind Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) as Stars center Sam Steel (18) closes in during the third period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

©2025 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dallas Stars fans cheer as left wing Jamie Benn (14) and center Wyatt Johnston (53) warm up before Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save during the second period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save in front of center Sam Steel (18), Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti (91) and Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) during the second period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Dallas Stars react to a replay of a play they though should have resulted in a Winnipeg Jets penalty during the second period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo (2) reaches for the puck against Dallas Stars right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) during the third period in Game 6 of second-round NHL playoff series on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Dallas.