Winnipeg, the best team in qualifying, is eliminated in the playoff quarterfinals. The Jets with Nino Niederreiter lost 2-1 on the road against Dallas with Lian Bichsel in Game 6.
18.05.2025, 07:51
18.05.2025, 08:31
SDA
Two days after the clear home win in Game 5 (4:0), Winnipeg also got off to the better start in Texas and was able to hope for a 3:3 tie in the best-of-7 series and a "Belle" on home ice. Mark Scheifele scored the opening goal against the Stars in the 26th minute. The Jets' Canadian forward played despite the death of his father a few hours before the match.
However, it was also Scheifele who was in the penalty box when Dallas scored the winner in overtime. The center had picked up a two-minute penalty - the only one of the game - 15 seconds before the end of regulation time. In the ensuing power play, Stars defenseman Thomas Harley scored to make it 2:1, having also made the pass to Sam Steel in the 32nd minute to tie the game at 1:1.
This means Dallas will face Edmonton in the playoff semi-finals for the second time in a row. The Oilers decided the series in their favor in six games a year ago. Game 1 of the semi-finals takes place on Wednesday in Texas, where the Stars have only lost once in these playoffs. So the dream continues for Lian Bichsel. The defenseman from Solothurn got a good ten minutes of ice time in the win against the Jets.
Will Niederreiter still join the national team?
With Winnipeg's elimination, the President's Trophy winner's black streak continues. The team with the best record in the regular season has not won the Stanley Cup since 2013 (Chicago). Grisons forward Nino Niederreiter scored six points in the playoffs.
With the Jets' elimination, nothing would stand in the way of Niederreiter being called up for the World Championships in Herning and Stockholm. Patrick Fischer has kept this option open by not filling all spots. Niederreiter would not be able to play until the last group game against Kazakhstan on Tuesday at the earliest.
