DALLAS – STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF COVERAGE – In a game filled with emotion, heart, and high stakes, it was Thomas Harley who played the hero’s role, ripping a power-play goal just 1:33 into overtime to lift the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 6—and punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final.
With Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele in the box for tripping Sam Steel on a late-game breakaway, Dallas made the Jets pay. Tyler Seguin, patient and poised behind the goal line, spotted Harley in the high slot. One crisp pass, one clean one-timer, and just like that—it was game over, series over, season over for Winnipeg.
“It happened pretty quick,” Harley said, grinning postgame. “But I remember the jump. Pretty sure I beat my training camp vertical with that one.”
Stars Advance, Jets Left Reeling
With the win, the Stars now advance to face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last year’s Western Final, which the Oilers won in six. Game 1 is set for Wednesday night in Dallas (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS).
The Stars are now heading to their third straight Conference Final, continuing their climb toward the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 1999.
Steel, Oettinger Deliver When It Counts
While Harley got the headlines, Sam Steel tied the game in the second period, pouncing on a rebound and roofing it over Connor Hellebuyck’s glove from the right face-off circle.
“It felt good to get that one,” said Steel. “We knew it was going to take every guy in the lineup to step up—and tonight, I got my shot.”
Goaltender Jake Oettinger delivered one of the defining saves of the series, diving to deny Mason Appleton late in the third with a full-extension stick stop that preserved the tie.
“That save might’ve been the turning point,” said Miro Heiskanen. “Just a monster performance by Jake.”
Scheifele Shines in Tragedy
For Mark Scheifele, Saturday was about more than hockey. Just hours before puck drop, the Jets forward learned that his father, Brad, had passed away.
Somehow, he suited up. Somehow, he scored. And somehow, he was the best player on the ice for Winnipeg.
“It’s hard to describe what he did out there,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry, visibly emotional. “He was incredible. He gave us everything.”
Jets defenseman Neal Pionk called it “one of the most courageous performances I’ve ever seen.”
Jets Fall Short, But Not Without Fight
The Jets, who captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team, bow out with heavy hearts. The loss drops Winnipeg to 0-6 on the road in this year’s playoffs, and extends their road playoff losing streak to 10 straight games dating back to 2023.
“We battled. We were right there,” said head coach Scott Arniel, who confirmed Josh Morrissey suffered a significant knee injury late in the second.
“But give Dallas credit. That’s a great team. They earned this one.”
Quick Hits & Notes
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Harley (23 years, 271 days) becomes the third-youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a series-winning OT goal, trailing only Bobby Orr and Babe Pratt.
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Pete DeBoer ties Mike Keenan for fifth-most playoff wins (96) and now has 19 career series victories—passing Jon Cooper, Darryl Sutter, and Toe Blake.
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The Stars advance with special teams delivering—Dallas capitalized on the game’s final penalty with precision and poise.
What’s Next
📍 Western Conference Final: Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers
📅 Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 at American Airlines Center
📺 8:00 PM ET – ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS