In a season that appears to maintain getting extra spectacular by the sport, the Winnipeg Jets set a brand new franchise report Thursday evening by incomes a degree in a tenth sport in a row, reaching that mark with a hard-earned 2-1 win over the NHL-worst Sharks in San Jose.
The primary interval received off to a gradual begin with ten stoppages within the first 4:33 however then the Jets went to work, dominating lengthy stretches of play with out with the ability to beat Mackenzie Blackwood.
With simply over six minutes to go within the first, Winnipeg held a 9-2 edge in pictures on aim and a 21-6 benefit in shot makes an attempt, however San Jose began to tilt the ice of their favour to shut the body, spending stretches of time within the Jets finish earlier than the horn sounded.
The Jets took a 10-6 edge in pictures on aim into the second interval however the Sharks continued to shut that hole, hitting a few posts and drawing even on the shot clock earlier than incomes the sport’s first energy play after nearly seven minutes of uninterrupted play.
The Sharks couldn’t convert on the facility play however simply seven seconds after Josh Morrissey stepped out of the penalty field, San Jose opened the scoring off the frenzy.
William Eklund carried the puck into the Winnipeg finish in the direction of the nook earlier than sliding a cross to the faceoff dot the place Alexander Barabanov was ready to wire one via Connor Hellebuyck, making it 1-0 on the 10:26 mark.
The Jets didn’t take lengthy to reply, drawing even simply 82 seconds later because of their pink sizzling fourth line.
After biking the puck across the Sharks zone, Neal Pionk took a shot from the purpose that was stopped by Blackwood however Morgan Barron received a chunk of the rebound together with his stick and the puck rolled throughout the aim line. Together with his eighth aim of the season, Barron matches his career-high in targets that he set final season.
The Sharks wound up outshooting the Jets 10-7 within the second interval as the sport carried an identical tone to the Dec. 12 contest that San Jose received 2-1.
However an early energy play within the third interval gave Winnipeg an opportunity to vary the narrative, and their slumping particular groups got here via within the clutch.
Gabriel Vilardi parked himself along side the crease and redirected a tough, pinpoint cross from Nikolaj Ehlers on the prime of the alternative faceoff circle into the web to provide Winnipeg a 2-1 lead simply 3:14 into the ultimate body.
From there, the Jets did what they’ve achieved so effectively this season: defend a lead. Hellebuyck stood his floor, a number of gamers blocked pictures and the clock hit zeros earlier than San Jose may draw even.
Hellebuyck turned apart 27 pictures on the day he was named to the NHL All-Star Recreation as Winnipeg has now gone 27 straight video games with out permitting greater than three targets.
The ten-game level streak breaks a tie with the 2005-06 Thrashers who went 6-0-3 over a nine-game stretch, and whereas the Jets have now gone 8-0-2 since shedding in regulation in San Jose final month, the Sharks have now misplaced ten straight video games since beating Winnipeg.
The Jets will look to get one other win Friday evening in Anaheim. The puck drops simply after 9 p.m. with pregame protection on 680 CJOB beginning at 7 p.m.