Hintz Breaks Away After Heiskanen's Long Shift Ends in Overtime Winner
Miro Heiskanen logged 29 minutes and 20 seconds on defense before his pass set up the final goal of a 3-2 victory for Dallas.
By Carolina Wood ·
Miro Heiskanen played 29 minutes and 20 seconds on the ice Thursday night, the heaviest workload among Dallas Stars defenders, before his pass led to the game-winning goal. Roope Hintz scored on a breakaway at 3:47 of overtime to give Dallas a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at American Airlines Center.
The final sequence began with a defensive stop rather than an offensive setup. Jason Robertson blocked a shot to preserve a Winnipeg scoring chance. Heiskanen then moved the puck to Hintz, who finished the play alone against the net. The transition from defense to attack occurred in seconds, converting a saved chance into a decisive strike.
Robertson’s role was twofold in the final minute. Heika reported that a turnover by Robertson initially created the Winnipeg opportunity, but his subsequent block ended it. The play was a team effort, relying on a shared recovery that allowed Heiskanen to make the decisive outlet pass.
The heavy minutes for the top defense pair were a direct result of Esa Lindell sitting out. With Lindell absent, Heiskanen and Thomas Harley carried the defensive load. Harley played 28 minutes and 27 seconds. Lian Bichsel logged 17 minutes and 47 seconds, while Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Myers, and Kyle Capobianco also took shifts. The total minutes indicate a heavy reliance on the top two pairs for the duration of the game.
Dallas trailed for much of the contest. John Johnston scored early in the second period for Winnipeg. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor added goals to put the Jets ahead. The Stars remained behind until Hintz scored a six-on-five equalizer with two minutes remaining in regulation.
The Stars outshot Winnipeg 38-19, but the defense could not capitalize on the volume. Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves for Dallas, but Winnipeg’s goaltender stopped enough shots to keep the game close. Heiskanen finished with five shots, one block, and the winning assist. Harley did not record a goal.
The Stars will look to adjust their defensive rotations in upcoming games. No return date for Lindell has been announced. The heavy minutes for Heiskanen and Harley were a one-night response to the injury, and the team has not yet defined a long-term pairing structure.
