Late Penalties Doom San Jose Sharks In Home Loss to Winnipeg Jets

Both the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets entered Thursday night’s game with something to play for, but it was the Jets who needed the win more and played like it as the Sharks fell 4-3 to the Jets at SAP Center on Thursday night. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Both the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets entered Thursday night’s game with something to play for, but it was the Jets who needed the win more and played like it as the Sharks fell 4-3 to the Jets at SAP Center.

The Jets, who need to essentially win out the rest of their games just to have a chance at going to the playoffs, got a much-needed win thanks to a late power play goal by Tobias Enstrom at the 16:24 mark of the third period. It was a power play goal, and the second consecutive power play for the Jets, meaning the Sharks’ penalty killers were likely tired out. Enstrom snuck in on the weak side and put the puck into a gaping left side of the net for the eventual game-winner.

Both teams scored two power play goals, as special teams played a large factor in this game. After trading early goals, Brent Burns put in a backhander on the man advantage at 14:27 of the first period to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead heading into first intermission. The Jets scored two unanswered in the second, as Blake Wheeler put in a soft goal past Niemi from a steep angle, then Dustin Byfuglien gave the Jets the lead on the power play. The Sharks responded with a power play goal of their own minutes later, when James Sheppard’s shot deflected off Logan Couture’s body and into the net to tie the game 3-3.

Twenty-two penalties minutes were handed out total in the game in a physical affair.

The Sharks, who remain at 103 points, are two points ahead of the Ducks, but Anaheim has three games in hand on San Jose.

After winning seven of eight games, the Sharks have now lost three of their last four. At season’s end, we may be looking back at this game as one that the Sharks should have had if they wind up falling behind the Ducks in the division.

Tale of the Tape

Sharks:

• Shots on goal: 30
• Power play: 2-for-4
• Hits: 24
• Giveaways: 17
• Takeaways: 10
• Faceoffs won: 30

Jets:

• Shots on goal: 31
• Power play: 2-for-5
• Hits: 23
• Giveaways: 9
• Takeaways: 2
• Faceoffs won: 21

Good to Know

What’s on Tap

The Sharks travel to Colorado to take on the Avalanche in a Saturday matinee.