Sharks at Jets
THE STORY: Third-period comebacks were the story for both the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. The Sharks were unable to capitalize on one and absorbed a shootout defeat in Minnesota, while the Jets were victimized by another in a 5-3 loss at Boston. Winnipeg gave up three third-period goals to the Bruins to cap a desultory road trip in which it went 1-3-0 and was outscored 17-8. The Jets will look to get back on track in the friendly confines of the MTS Centre, where they have gone 14-6-1 to tie for the second-most home wins in the Eastern Conference. San Jose erased a pair of two-goal deficits in the third period before falling to Minnesota in the shootout. The defeat didn’t sit well with Sharks coach Todd McLellan. “Some nights you get what you deserve. Tonight we probably got a little more than we deserved,” he said of earning one point.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, CSCA, TSN
ABOUT THE SHARKS (23-11-5): LW Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist Tuesday to eclipse 800 points for his career. Marleau extended his points streak to six games and is on a roll with six goals and nine assists in his last 12. In 13 games against the Jets franchise, he has nine goals and nine assists. Tuesday’s loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Pacific Division leaders, who are 8-1-2 in their last 11.
ABOUT THE JETS (21-17-5): RW Blake Wheeler scored a goal against Boston, his fourth in the last five games. Wheeler is on a roll with five goals in six assists in his last nine games, moving him past Evander Kane for the team lead with 32 points. Kane has hit a dry spell, registering three goals in his last 14 games. He has scored a goal in each of his two career games against San Jose.
OVERTIME:
1. One of San Jose’s more memorable games came at Winnipeg in February 2003. The Sharks won 3-2 to avoid an NHL-record 18th consecutive defeat.
2. Jets LW Tanner Glass (eye) and D Zach Bogosian (lower body) both were hurt in the game against Boston.
3. The Sharks are 9-1-1 with two ties in the last 13 meetings against the former Atlanta Thrashers.