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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Close, but not quite close enough.
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Close, but not quite close enough.
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Close, but not quite close enough.
That will go down as the overarching theme for this three-game road trip for the Winnipeg Jets after closing the swing out with a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center.
For the second time in as many games, the Jets were unable to bring home a lead after two periods.
As a result, they’re taking home four of six points as they slipped to 23-26-10 for the season.
“I really believe that should have been six of six points on the road,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “But at the end of the day we’ve got to go home and take care of business now.”
The Jets open an eight-game homestand on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Although the Jets were pretty stingy through two periods, they were loose to start the third period, allowing a breakaway for Philipp Kurashev that was stopped and a pair of odd-man rushes, the second of which resulted in the tying goal for Will Smith.
“That start to the third period, the first three shifts, for our veteran group to let that happen… that was embarrassing,” said Arniel, who was visibly frustrated. “If you’re trying to gain points and you’re on the road, you can’t cheat like that. We fed that. We’ve just got to be more mindful of that.”
Rookie Michael Misa ended the three-on-three session at 1:40 of overtime.
“Yeah, not bad. I definitely thought we left a couple out there, having that lead in Anaheim, dropping that one, and then this was definitely a winnable game,” said Jets left-winger Kyle Connor, asked about the trip as a whole. “So, we’ve got to stay hungry. And we’re getting points here, but we’re not at the luxury of just getting one point right now.”
Let’s take a closer look at this one:
EXTRA TIME WOES – For the 10th time in the past 11 games that went beyond regulation, the Jets left a second point on the table.
The lone victory in that scenario came on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks when Cole Perfetti scored in overtime.
For a team that’s trying to stay in the playoff chase, the inability to cash in during three-on-three action or the shootout has massive implications on where the Jets find themselves in the standings.
Arniel has tried a number of different combinations in overtime, but the winning formula has been hard to find.
When asked about the differences between the outcomes at three-on-three this season and the past several, Arniel gave a quick, yet pointed answer.
“Personnel,” said Arniel. “Personnel has a lot to do with it.”
Connor also weighed in with some thoughts on the subject.
“Yeah, it’s usually how it goes, you get one chance one way and it goes down the other way,” said Connor, who had the best chance in overtime for the Jets. “Unfortunately, they were able to score on that one and we weren’t able to get another one. That’s just how it goes sometimes.”
THE SLUMP BUSTER – Jets forward Morgan Barron got things started in the first period, taking a pass from Tanner Pearson before streaking in and beating Alex Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot high to the glove side.
For Barron, it was his eighth goal of the season but first in 21 games.
Barron had another glorious chance to put the Jets back on top during the third period, bursting in on a shorthanded break but he was robbed by Nedeljkovic on the play.
“Just trying to beat him to the post,” said Barron. “I came in with a good head of steam. He made a good save on it and that is a big one. Kind of one I would like to have back.”
Barron has been used primarily as the fourth line centre this season, but he’s on the verge of another 10-goal campaign and is making a case for an expanded role.
“He’s been playing great for us all year,” said Connor. “He puts in a lot of work. And the (penalty) kill was great (on Sunday) and he was a big part of that. And you see the type of skill that he has to get that shot off in his first goal.”
The Jets penalty kill finished four-for-four, though the power play was zero-for-three.
THE KEY PLAY – Misa snuck a shot past Connor Hellebuyck on the short side at 1:40 of overtime.
Michael Misa, Sharks, Delivered the decisive goal.
Morgan Barron, Jets, Scored the lone goal for visitors.
William Eklund, Sharks, Assisted on game-winner, had five shots on goal.
THE DEBUT AND RETURN – Walker Duehr made his Jets debut, skating mostly on the third line with Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquis.
Duehr used his speed effectively and got in on the forecheck, finishing with 14 shifts for 8:20 of action.
It’s been a productive season with the Moose for Duehr, who has 12 goals and 26 points (to tie his career high) in 39 games.
Duehr, who signed a one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent on July 2, is one of the few right-handed shooting wingers in the organization, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get a longer run to show what he can do.
“You see his size, you see his speed. He gets in, he gets in heavy on the forecheck,” said Arniel. “Just him getting comfortable again, kind of playing up here, that will certainly help.”
The Jets made one other change to their skaters, inserting defenceman Haydn Fleury into the lineup for the first time since he crashed heavily into the end boards in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 6.
Fleury was used mostly on the third pairing with Luke Schenn, though he did see some brief time running the second power play unit and took a shift in overtime, finishing with two hits and a blocked shot in 12:47 of ice time.
EXTRA, EXTRA – Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves in his second start back after the Olympic break. Hellebuyck wasn’t made available to the media during the past several days since he rejoined the team and he’s expected to speak about his Olympic experience and visit to the White House early this week.
Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov is officially listed as week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury early in the second period of Friday’s game.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
The Jets lone healthy scratch was Ville Heinola, as Kale Clague was reassigned to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League prior to the game. Don’t be surprised to see the Jets recall a forward at some point prior to Tuesday’s game.
There was an interesting name on the waiver wire on Sunday in winger Andrew Mangiapane, who has endured a frustrating season with the Edmonton Oilers, with seven goals and 14 points in 52 games. The Jets were one of the teams linked to Mangiapane in free agency this past summer and given the injuries up front to Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter, he could be a consideration. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has one more season left on his current contract with an AAV of US $3.6 million. Mangiapane has 130 goals and 257 points in 550 NHL games with the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and and Oilers, plus 82 playoff games on his resume.
The Oilers also placed defenceman Alec Regula on waivers on Sunday. Regula, a right-handed shot, is 6-foot-4, 211 pounds and moves pretty well, so he could draw interest from a team like the Jets as well for a third pairing role. Regula, 25, has one goal, four points and 51 penalty minutes in 51 NHL games.
Winnipegger Ryan Reaves was scratched against the Jets, but the rugged right-winger is a popular member of the Sharks. Reaves has three goals in 47 games with the Sharks and he’s up to 959 career NHL games in his quest to eclipse 1,000.
winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe
Ken Wiebe
Reporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ken Wiebe
Reporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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