The Sharks returned from their lengthy 2-week
break by hitting the road with a stop in Winnipeg. San Jose's offense may have
missed the trip from San Jose, as Connor Hellebuyck shutout the Sharks with an
18 save performance. Kappo Kahkonen made 39 saves in the 1-0 loss.
Playing without Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, the Sharks offense was
non-existent. The Sharks would fall for the 38th time in 52 games this season.
Kahkonen was the lone bright spot in the defeat. The only goal he would
surrender came off a double reflection.
The Sharks got out of the gate
with some inspired skating, putting the first 4 shots of the game on net. Then
someone flipped a switch and it turned a different game. The Jets sent the next
15 in the direction of Kahkonen, including a Neal Pionk attempt that hit Morgan
Barron deflecting home for a 1-0 Jets lead.
The Jest had a pair of
golden chances 12 minutes into the 2nd period when Nino Niederreiter skated in
on a breakaway, and then pulled the trigger on a point blank chance off another
rush. In both cases, Kahkonen denied the Jets forward to keep the Sharks close.
San Jose missed on a chance that went to video
review after Anthony Duclair flipped a puck on net that was stopped when
defenseman Mark Scheifele stepped behind Hellebuyck to block the net. Duclair's
shot hit Scheifele in the knee.
Nico Sturm was injured midway through
the 3rd period when he fell backwards following a check and hit his head on the
ice. The forward was able to skate off on his own, but he was done for the
night.
The Sharks looked to pull Kahkonen with a minute remaining in
regulation, but he was injured on a scrum in front of his own net. The Sharks
goaltender had to drag himself off the ice and over the boards.
It was
all moot as San Jose could not get the puck anywhere near Hellebuyck, extra
skater or not.
Game Notes: * The Sharks returned from
the long break without Tomas Hertl, who will miss several weeks after
undergoing surgery on his left knee to clean up loose cartilage.
*
Logan Couture was a medical scratch as he nurses a groin issue. Couture missed
the first 45 games of the season. He returned for the next 6, recording 1
assist.
* Mario Ferraro returned to the lineup after missing the last
4 games with an ankle issue. Mikael Granlund also returned after missing 6
games with a shoulder injury.
* Ferraro notched 300 career NHL games
with his appearance on Wednesday night.
* Sharks head coach David
Quinn had hip replacement surgery last week and was on the bench in Winnipeg.
Nobody can call hockey players soft.
