San Jose Sharks beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in their return to the Shark Tank
Break up the San Jose Sharks. They're red hot, 6-2-1 in their last nine, this Sharks team is enjoying the way its playing. Tonight was a perfect game for the fans. An enjoyable win with goals scored by an AHLer finally getting a shot in the NHL in the Bay Area, and a young kid who is supposed to help save the franchise. In net, a rejected netminder from New Jersey stole the show, and this Sharks team has that feel-good factor all around them right now. Points in the standings, great stories, and a fun style of hockey to watch.
San Jose would get the party started early in this one. Mike Hoffman and Jan Rutta would combine to get the puck into the high slot where Justin Bailey would fire the puck home to make it a 1-0 Sharks lead after San Jose had dominated the first 5 minutes. Winnipeg was starting to get a foothold in this game, but the Sharks managed to take the lead when the Jets were trying to get into it and take the lead in this Westside Story.
Winnipeg would tie the game up at one. A point shot from former San Jose Shark Brendan Dillion was deflected by former San Jose Sharks asset Vladislav Namestnikov and Mackenzie Blackwood had no chance to catch up to it. With the Sharks dominating the game for the most part, this came against the flow of the game and the Sharks were regretting their inability to finish their scoring chances.
It would be the powerplay in the third period that would get the Sharks their lead back. A simple pass from Tomas Hertl back to Anthony Duclair who gives it to Mikael Granlund back at the point. Granlund sets up young William Eklund who beats the Jets netminder and it gives the Sharks a 2-1 lead in a game that had been a goalie duel to this point. Now it was a case of getting to the end of the game for two more points.
In the end, Mackenzie Blackwood was challenged again and again. The final five minutes saw the Sharks turtle up and try to defend their lead. It allowed the Jets to continue to generate, but it didn't matter. San Jose did enough to get another win. The suddenly red hot San Jose Sharks hold on to beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 as they return gome to the Shark Tank.