Jets defeat Sharks 5-4 in shootout

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 11:23 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 Last Modified: 11:42 PM CST Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 | Updates

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The Winnipeg Jets overcame three different deficits to defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 in a shootout at MTS Centre Sunday night.

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The Winnipeg Jets overcame three different deficits to defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 in a shootout at MTS Centre Sunday night.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2013 (4383 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets overcame three different deficits to defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 in a shootout at MTS Centre Sunday night.

Jets captain Andrew Ladd tied the game with just 1:43 to play in regulation on a one-timer from the slot, rang the post in a scoreless overtime and then scored the only goal of the shootout to lead his club to their third win in four games, third win a row at home and their first back-to-back victory since the start of the season.

While the Jets special teams weren’t pretty on this night — San Jose scored twice with the man advantage, while Winnipeg went 0-2 with the man advantage and has now scored just once in their last 44 powerplays — Jets head coach Claude Noel said his team showed both courage and resilience in grinding out a tough come-from-behind win that might have ended differently just a few short weeks ago.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets' Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates Andrew Ladd's (16) late game tying goal against San Jose Sharks' Scott Hannan (27) and goaltender Antti Niemi (31) in third period action. — WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets' Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates Andrew Ladd's (16) late game tying goal against San Jose Sharks' Scott Hannan (27) and goaltender Antti Niemi (31) in third period action.

“The outcome was great — couldn’t have drawn it up any better. I thought we played a really strong game. I thought we were resilient in the game, we didn’t lose our focus, we didn’t lose our hope when we easily could have after the first period,” Noel said.

“I thought our guys were good. They really didn’t get rattled. A week or two ago might have been different but I thought we were really good…

“To me it was a huge building block for our team this game in a lot of different ways.”

In addition to Ladd’s equalizer late in the third period, the Jets got second period goals from Michael Frolik, Dustin Byfuglien and Grant Clitsome — who also had two assists on the night to lead the Jets on the scoresheet — as Winnipeg overcame deficits of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 to defeat a Sharks club that is now winless in five games after opening the season at 8-0-1.

San Jose scored what would have been the game winner three minutes into overtime, but the goal was waved off due to goaltender interference.

“It’s huge,” said Ladd. “It’s a big win. The way we won, the way we battled back, the late goal. (Ondrej Pavelec) made some big saves for us and we had some key goals from a lot of different guys. It should do a lot for this room and, against a tough team, give us some confidence.”

Noel chuckled when it was pointed out to him that his special teams would likely have been wearing the horns for a loss if Ladd hadn’t come up big late in the game.

“We might be talking about that,” Noel grinned, “but the fact Andrew scored that goal — we’ll just stay with Andrew scored a nice goal.”

The Jets outshot the Sharks 46-34, the second time in four games Winnipeg has fired over 46 or more shots on their opponent’s goal.

In addition to Clitsome’s three-point night, the Jets also got multi-point nights out of centre Bryan Little (2A) and Ladd (1G, 1A).

Clitsome was asked what the Jets can take from the win over San Jose into their next game Tuesday evening in Detroit against the Red Wings, who Winnipeg defeated 4-2 at MTS Centre last Monday.

“A little positive vibe, maybe a little fun and definitely some momentum,” said Clitsome. “I think it’s good now. Guys are starting to get a little bit more confidence. We’re starting to get a little more comfortable playing in tight games. And I think that’s good for us.”

Ladd takes charge

And in the end, the captain simply took over.

With his club trailing the San Jose Sharks 4-3 late in the third period and seemingly doomed to — yet again — follow up an impressive win with a bad loss, Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd simply took matters into his own hands at MTS Centre Sunday night.

First, Ladd scored the equalizer with 1:43 remaining in regulation on a one-timer from the slot; then Ladd rang the goalpost in overtime; and finally, he scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Jets heir first back-to-back wins since the very first two games of the 2013 season.

“(You can’t) be much more of a leader than that,” said Jets defenceman Grant Clitsome. “He’s a pretty quiet leader in the room and speaks when he has to. But his play shows it on the ice. He’s been clutch for us this year and I think that’s a pretty huge goal tonight. And the shootout goal too was pretty huge.”

Ladd finished the night with a goal and an assist and received plaudits after the game from his head coach. “When Andrew plays well it’s because of the will he brings to the game,” said Claude Noel. “And his will through battles and the way he plays the game is infectuous. And that’s how to me he ends up being a tremendous leader.”

True to form, Ladd deflected any praise for his late-game efforts to other corners of the Jets dressing room. “We needed a goal at the end. (Linemate Bryan Little) made a great play and I just tried to get it off as quick as I could,” said Ladd, who also got an assist on a goal by Clitsome late in the second period that tied the game 3-3 at that point.

With the win — the Jets third in a row at home and third in four games — Ladd was asked if his team is finally beginning to show signs of the consistency that has so far mostly eluded them this season.

“I hope so. We’re in a tough spot here,” said Ladd, referencing his club’s 8-9-2 record. “We’ve got to battle and win a lot of games to get back into the playoff mix here. Every game’s so important and we can’t afford to take any nights off.

“We’re going to need that urgency night in and night out.”

Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec said he was impressed by how his team persevered despite trailing 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 midway through the second period.

“We didn’t give up. There was a lot of hockey still in front of us and (Ladd) made a great play to tie the game and great moves in the shootout. I think the battle was really good and the guys did a great job.”