Mark Scheifele completed the 2-1 overtime comeback over the visiting San Jose Sharks on Monday night, becoming the Winnipeg Jets’ all-time leader in goals while extending their win streak to 10 games.
Scheifele left the puck for Nikolaj Ehlers in the high slot, went to the net, and knocked in the rebound 1:33 into the extra frame after Vitek Vanecek made the initial save on Ehlers. Scheifele’s 329th career goal with the Jets passed Ilya Kovalchuk’s Atlanta Thrashers’ record.
Winnipeg scored with an extra attacker on the ice, forcing overtime with 26 seconds left in regulation as Josh Morrissey tied the score 1-1 when he got to a loose puck and scored from the top of the left circle.
Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves for Winnipeg in the win.
William Eklund scored for the Sharks, who have lost six straight games and 12 of their last 13. Vanecek was stellar in defeat, making 33 saves and bidding for his first shutout in nearly two years. San Jose is 0-2 on to begin its seven-game road trip and was seeking just its seventh road win of the season.
The Sharks went 1-for-3 on the power play; the Jets were 0-for-2.
Eklund gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 15:07 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Macklin Celebrini during a 4-on-3 power play.
Vanecek made a diving save on Kyle Connor’s point-blank backhand shot to preserve the 1-0 lead early in the second period.
The score remained 1-0 despite a furious final minute of the frame. Vanecek made a series of saves during a Jets power play and San Jose’s Tyler Toffoli hit the post on a rebound attempt going the other way.
Winnipeg’s Colin Miller also hit the left post with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third period. Less than six minutes later, Adam Lowry had a chance to even the score, but Vanecek turned him away with a stellar pad save.
Ultimately, though, the Sharks could not keep Winnipeg off the scoreboard, as late-game heroics and the early overtime score lifted the Jets to victory.
The Jets entered Monday averaging 3.60 goals per game — second in the NHL — while San Jose was allowing 3.71 goals per game, which is the most in the NHL.
–Field Level Media
