Sharks take a bite out of undisciplined Jets, leave Winnipeg with 4-1 win

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This article was published 12/01/2016 (3555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was another loss for the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday, and what everyone will undoubtedly be talking about after the 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks is even more familiar than the final result.

Indeed, the Jets’ penchant for taking penalties was once again on full display at the MTS Centre — a lack of discipline in the final minutes ended all chance of a comeback for the homeside.

With the score 2-1 for San Jose and 7:05 left in the third period, defenceman Tyler Myers issued a cross-check on Sharks forward Tommy Wingels. The move would prove costly as Myers was issued a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct, leaving the Jets short-handed and unlikely of a comeback.

That is, until Blake Wheeler danced into the Sharks zone moments later, taking the puck from goalie Alex Stalock from behind the net and coming out in front to score what appeared to be the game-tying goal. But that too was called back, as Wheeler was called for goalie interference, taking the pads out from under Stalock with his left skate. Wheeler was issued a two-minute penalty with the Jets now down two men.

The Sharks would make good on the 5-on-3 power-play, ending with a goal from Joe Pavelski to put the Sharks up 3-1. Joel Ward added an empty-net marker in the dying seconds.

With the loss, the Jets drop to 19-21-3 on the year, while the Sharks improve to 21-18-2 with the win.

After a rather slow start to the opening frame, things started to pick up late in the first period with all three goals being scored in the final five minutes. With the Sharks down a man, Chris Tierny opened the scoring with a short-handed marker, dancing around Dustin Byfuglien before beating Connor Hellebuyck with a wrist-shot glove-side. The Jets would even the score on the same powerplay, just 23 seconds later, with a goal from Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers took a pass from Drew Stafford, finishing off the 2-on-1 with a tap-in goal.

It looked to be a tie game heading into the second period but that was spoiled when Sharks captain Joe Thornton regained the Sharks lead, scoring his ninth of the year with just 46 seconds to make it 2-1.

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Neither team could make a dent on the scoresheet in the second period. After the San Jose outshot Winnipeg, 11-7 in the first, the Jets outscored the Sharks 10-4, and now lead in that category 17-15. Shots ended, 27-22, in favour of San Jose.