Kyle Connor #81 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates his third goal with teammates in the third period against the Dallas Stars at Canada Life Centre on Thursday.
Mikko Rantanen scored the first goal and had two assists and the Dallas Stars won in coach Glen Gulutzan’s return, overcoming Kyle Connor’s hat trick to hold off the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.
Gulutzan took over for the fired Pete DeBoer during the off-season.
Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for Dallas, which knocked the Jets out of the second round of the playoffs in six games last season. Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Seguin and Wyatt Johnston also scored, and Jake Oettinger made 21 saves.
Down 5-1 after Johnston’s goal early in the third, the Jets rallied on short-handed goals by Morgan B