National Hockey League
Winnipeg 2, San Jose 1
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, January 4, 2024
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Chris Lee, Francois St. Laurent
Linesmen: Caleb Apperson, Ryan Jackson
Attendance: 10521

Gabriel Vilardi broke a third-period deadlock and sparked the visiting Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 comeback victory over the struggling San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Morgan Barron also scored for the Jets, who are riding a four-game winning streak.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves. Hellebuyck has surrendered two or fewer goals in 15 of his last 16 outings, and the Jets are rolling because of it.

Winnipeg has netted points in a franchise-record 10 consecutive games and is riding a 12-1-2 run. Despite sitting second in the Central Division, the Jets have the best winning percentage in the Western Conference.

Alexander Barabanov scored for the Sharks, who sit at the bottom of the league standings and are on a 10-game skid, with all those defeats in regulation time. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 28 shots in defeat.

Vilardi broke the 1-1 tie with a power-play goal 3:14 into the third period. Vilardi was parked at the side of the net and neatly redirected a Nikolaj Ehlers pass from the top of the opposite circle for his eighth goal of the season.

The Sharks, who also had an 11-game losing streak this season, pushed feverishly for the equalizer but could not find it.

It's the third consecutive game the Sharks were tied in the third period only to lose, and like the previous two outings, gave a strong effort only to fall short.

Despite the Jets carrying the bulk of the play through the first half of the game, Barabanov put the Sharks ahead at 10:26 of the middle frame with his third goal of the season, a one-timer from the left face-off dot set up by William Eklund.

Barron tied the score 82 seconds later with his eighth goal of the campaign, matching his career high set last season. Neal Pionk's shot was stopped, but Barron was on the spot for the rebound tally.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Winnipeg   San Jose
Morgan Barron 1 Points Alexander Barabanov 1
Morgan Barron 1 Goals Alexander Barabanov 1
Brenden Dillon 1 Assists William Eklund 1
Gabriel Vilardi 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Connor Hellebuyck .964 Save Percentage Mackenzie Blackwood .933
Connor Hellebuyck 27 Saves Mackenzie Blackwood 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Winnipeg 30 2 1-1 2-2 4 14
San Jose 28 1 0-2 0-1 2 32
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Sharks have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .200 after a loss.
  • Winnipeg will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Jets have a W/L % of .696 after a win and .571 after a loss.