Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 24 shots, earning his league-leading eighth shutout of the season, as the visiting Winnipeg Jets blanked the Dallas Stars 4-0 on Thursday, tightening their grip on home-ice advantage.

Kyle Connor scored twice in the third period for the first-place Jets (54-21-4, 112 points), who vaulted six points ahead of the second-place Stars (50-23-6, 106 points) in the Central Division. With just three regular-season games remaining, Winnipeg now needs only a single point — or for Dallas to drop one — to clinch first place in the division and the Western Conference.

Nino Niederreiter and Morgan Barron were the other goal-scorers for Winnipeg, and Josh Morrissey picked up two assists.

Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made 31 stops.

Winnipeg opened the scoring with 1:23 left in the first period, thanks to a tip-in by Niederreiter. Morrissey set up the play by firing a sharp pass toward the net that Niederreiter redirected from the slot, beating Oettinger on the blocker side.

Just 3:37 into the frame, Barron extended the Jets’ advantage. He drove hard to the net, weaving through the Stars’ defense, and chipped the puck into the net.

The Jets padded the lead at the 6:20 mark of the third period. After a relentless forecheck erased their own turnover, Winnipeg flipped the momentum when Mark Scheifele sprang Connor, who made no mistake, snapping a shot to make it 3–0.

Just 2:20 later, the Jets struck again. A loose puck slid through a maze of skates and sticks in the slot, landing perfectly for Connor, who quickly lifted it up and over Oettinger.

Winnipeg concludes its road slate with a Saturday game at Chicago before returning home to end the regular season with games against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday and the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

Dallas’ final home game is scheduled for Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club. The Stars conclude on the road against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday and the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media