Heiskanen's 29:20 shift ends with the game-winning assist

Dallas fans walked out of American Airlines Center with a victory, but the path to that result was messy. The Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime, a game where they trailed twice before finding a way to win.

The final sequence began with a defensive stop. Jason Robertson blocked a Winnipeg chance in the extra period. Immediately after the block, Miro Heiskanen passed the puck to Roope Hintz. Hintz took the shot on a breakaway and scored at 3:47 of overtime to give Dallas the lead.

That assist came after a grueling night on the ice. With Esa Lindell out of the lineup, Heiskanen played 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Thomas Harley also carried a heavy load, logging 28 minutes and 27 seconds. The next defender on the list, Lian Bichsel, played just 17 minutes and 47 seconds. The gap in minutes shows how much the Stars relied on their top two defensemen to keep Winnipeg in check.

The game was not one-sided in terms of scoring chances. Dallas outshot Winnipeg 38-19, but goaltender Connor Skinner made 35 saves. The Jets scored first in the second period through Johnston. Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor then tied the game for Winnipeg before the Stars equalized. Hintz scored a six-on-five goal with two minutes left in regulation to bring the score to 2-2.

Robertson's role in the final minute was complex. Heika reported that a turnover by Robertson created the Winnipeg chance that Heiskanen later blocked. The team relied on a shared recovery to turn that defensive stop into an offensive opportunity. Heiskanen finished the night with five shots, one block, and the winning assist.

The win did not solve all lineup questions. Lindell's absence was a one-night fact, and no return date was announced. The Stars used their current personnel to complete the assignment against Winnipeg.