Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves as he picked up his third shutout of the season, leading the Winnipeg Jets to a 1-0 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
Morgan Barron was the lone goal scorer with his ninth of the season, assisted by Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg.
Winnipeg has won two straight following a five-game winless streak (0-4-1).
San Jose goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen shined in the loss, making 38 saves.
The Sharks returned to action following the All-Star break with 13 days between games. They got off to a strong start, holding the Jets without a shot in the first 6:08 of the game.
That’s when Winnipeg started to take things over. However, the Jets wouldn’t get the game’s first goal until 2:13 remained in the opening frame. Barron snapped his 13-game goal-less drought when he deflected a Pionk shot from the blueline that found its way into the back of the net.
Kahkonen shone in the second period, stopping several in-tight and high-danger chances as the Jets continued to pepper the net with shots, holding the Sharks to only a single-goal deficit.
San Jose’s best chance came with 3:57 left in the second. A misplaced puck by Hellebuyck was corralled and put on the net by Anthony Duclair, beating the Jets netminder, but Mark Scheifele blocked the shot from the crease and swept it out of harm’s way.
The Jets held their 1-0 lead after 40 minutes while also dominating in shots on goal 31-12.
Winnipeg, which entered the game having only scored six goals in its last six games, continued to be snake-bitten offensively, as Kahkonen turned away several more great opportunities as the third period waned.
San Jose forward Nico Sturm was hit into the boards by Winnipeg defenseman Logan Stanley in the third period and left the game. Stanley was not penalized on the play.
–Field Level Media
