In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Jets managed to secure a thrilling victory over the San Jose Sharks with a final score of 2-1 on Monday night. This win marked their franchise-record 10th straight victory. Josh Morrissey scored the pivotal tying goal in the final minute of regulation play, while Mark Scheifele clinched the winner just 1:33 into overtime.
Connor Hellebuyck played a crucial role in the win, keeping the Jets in the game with 17 saves. On the opposing side, William Eklund was the only contributor for San Jose, scoring their sole goal. Vitek Vanecek, guarding the net for the Sharks, made 33 saves throughout the game.
Morrissey’s tying goal came as a powerful slap shot from the top of the circle with only 26 seconds remaining, marking his eighth goal of the season. In the subsequent overtime, Scheifele’s backhand shot not only sealed the victory for the Jets but also earned him the distinction of being the team’s franchise leader in goals. This shot brought his career tally to 329, surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk’s long-standing record established during the Atlanta Thrashers era.
Eklund managed to find the back of the net with a high one-timer during a Sharks 4-on-3 power play, slipping past Hellebuyck in the final minutes of the first period. Although the Sharks had more opportunities on the power play in the second period, they couldn’t capitalize further. The Jets, after a late start, finally got a power play chance but were blocked by Vanecek.
A tense third period saw the Jets chip away without success until Morrissey’s critical goal that tied up the game. The audience’s impatience was evident as some fans expressed their discontent during the playing of the American anthem.
A breakdown of the game shows that the Sharks entered the matchup with the 26th-ranked power play in the league at 17.6%, converting once out of their three opportunities. The Jets saw their share of challenges despite several dangerous attempts at the goal during power plays, with Hellebuyck remaining strong against particularly tough shots from Macklin Celebrini.
Morrissey’s equalizing goal in the waning seconds of regulation was a decisive moment that swung momentum in the Jets’ favor. Key statistics from the game reveal that Winnipeg has managed to turn their luck around, with a 2-8-1 record when trailing after the second period. Conversely, the Sharks have a 9-6-3 record when leading after two periods.
Looking ahead, the Sharks are set to visit Montreal this Thursday, while the Jets will be on the road to face off against Ottawa on Wednesday.
