Jets at Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have thrived despite a packed scheduled coming out of their break, but there's no rest for the weary as they prepare to host the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. The Sharks routed Anaheim 6-2 to improve to 5-1-0 during a nine-day span following the bye to surge into second place in the Pacific Division.
"I think we're a really good team, hard to beat, play good defensively," San Jose forward Melker Karlsson said after the drubbing of the Ducks. "If we do everything right, we can beat every team here." The Jets hold a one-point lead over Nashville and are 8-2-1 in their last 11 despite failing to score more than one goal in regulation for four straight games, including wins over Calgary (2-1, shootout) and Vancouver (1-0) in their last two. "I think everyone in this locker room is comfortable with that kind of game," Winnipeg forward Patrik Laine said. "That's the reason we're winning these games. We're a tight defensive team. We just have to score with those few chances that we get." The Sharks blanked the Jets 4-0 on Nov. 25 before dropping a 4-1 decision at Winnipeg on Jan. 7 to snap their four-game winning streak in the series.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), NBCS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE JETS (28-13-7): Connor Hellebuyck was named the league's Second Star of the Week after surrendering one goal on 60 shots to beat the Flames and Canucks on back-to-back nights while earning his fourth shutout of the season. "I like to think that I'm a calm goalie," Hellebuyck said. "I think that helps the team and I like to stick to it." Hellebuyck also turned aside 31 of 32 shots to beat San Jose earlier this month and stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief of an injured Steve Mason on Nov. 25.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-14-6): With starter Martin Jones dealing with a lower-body injury, backup Aaron Dell turned aside 64 of 67 shots to beat Pittsburgh and Anaheim in a back-to-back to extend his winning streak to three. "He's been a real key to all of our success, stopping all those pucks. He's a great goalie," said forward Kevin Labanc, who snapped a 12-game goalless drought. Logan Couture has not scored in the past five games, but he has three tallies in the two matchups versus Winnipeg.
OVERTIME
1. The Jets are 13-3-0 and Hellebuyck is 11-1-0 against the Pacific Division this season.
2. Sharks C Joe Thornton, who moved into 16th place on the career list with 1,426 points, has 39 of them in 36 games versus Winnipeg.
3. Jets F Mathieu Perreault has four goals in the past six games, including a pair against San Jose.