Winnipeg Jets lose season opener to Dallas Stars, despite late rally, Kyle Connor hat trick

ManitobaOne day after signing an eight-year, $96-million contract, Kyle Connor scored three goals for the Winnipeg Jets in their season-opener at Canada Life Centre. But his heroics weren’t enough, as the visiting Dallas Stars built a 5-1 lead early in the third period and held off a furious Jets comeback to skate away with a 5-4 win.Jonathan Toews held pointless in 1st regular-season game since 2023The Associated Press · Posted: Oct 10, 2025 12:15 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoKyle Connor celebrates his first of three goals against the Dallas Stars Thursday night. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)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 offseason.Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for Dallas. 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 Barron at 9:53 and Connor with 8:51 left and Connor’s third with 3:03 remaining.Mark Scheifele assisted on all three of Connor’s goals, which were scored one day after the 28-year-old winger signed an eight-year, $96-million contract extension to stay in Winnipeg.Jonathan Toews skates onto the ice during pregame introductions at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Thursday night. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)Veteran centre Jonathan Toews was scoreless in his regular-season debut with his hometown team, after winning three Stanley Cups over 15 seasons in Chicago. He played just over 18 minutes in his return from a 2½-year layoff due to chronic fatigue and symptoms of long COVID.Gulutzan coached Dallas from 2011-13. He was on Edmonton’s staff the past seven seasons. The Oilers lost to Florida in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons, both after eliminating the Stars in the Western Conference final. A first-period shot by the Stars’ Nils Lundkvist eludes Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck Thursday night, making the score 2-1. Dallas beat the reigning Hart Trophy winner three more times to start the third period en route to a 5-4 victory. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)With files from CBC