Late power-play tally lifts Sharks over Jets

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th December, 01:27 2023

Dec 12, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc (62) shoots the puck against Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg (54) and goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. credits: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose's William Eklund fired in a tiebreaking power-play goal late in the third period as the Sharks beat the visiting Winnipeg Jets 2-1 on Tuesday.

The winning tally came after Dylan DeMelo went off for hooking to set up the home side's third power play.

Eklund gave San Jose its second lead when he one-timed a pass from Mikael Granlund with 4:51 remaining, improving San Jose to 4-1-1 in December.

Back home after a 3-2-1 road trip, the Sharks saw Justin Bailey end a goal-scoring drought of nearly six years. San Jose goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 36 saves.

With top goal scorer Kyle Connor (knee) back in Manitoba, the Jets used 11 forwards and received an unassisted tally from defenseman Brenden Dillon.

Goalie Laurent Brossoit stopped 30 shots as Winnipeg fell to 2-6-0 against the Pacific Division.

To begin the first of three matchups between the clubs, San Jose was ferocious and registered the opening seven shots and a 12-1 shot disparity over the first six minutes, much to the fans' delight.

The mood got even better when Mike Hoffman fed a pass from below the goal line to Bailey, who ripped a shot from above the right circle at 9:17 to put San Jose up 1-0.

The marker was Bailey's first as a member of the Sharks and his fifth point in eight games with San Jose.

His most recent goal came on March 10, 2018, while with the Buffalo Sabres.

Seven minutes later, Dillon sent a long shot from near the blue line. Blackwood got a piece of the fluttering shot with his glove, but the puck flew in at 16:09 for Dillon's sixth goal.

As they did to close the first period, the Jets had the better of offensive push over the second frame.

With Nikolaj Ehlers elevated to Connor's spot as the top line's left winger, Winnipeg found its game and put pressure on Wedgewood as the visitors outshot San Jose 13-10 in the scoreless 20 minutes.

The Jets had one final man advantage after Eklund's goal, but San Jose made it 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and won for the sixth time in nine games (6-2-1).

—Field Level Media

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