SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Timo Meier scored a power-play goal in overtime and the San Jose Sharks overcame the loss of seven players and their coach to NHL COVID-19 protocols, beating the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 Saturday night and snapping a three-game losing streak.
The Sharks announced before the game they would be without the seven players and coach Bob Boughner. The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes.
“That’s what adversity does, right? It forces you to depend on each other and bring out the best in each other,” Sharks goalie James Reimer said.
Meier scored on a one-timer from the wing that deflected off defenseman Logan Stanley’s stick and sailed over goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s shoulder at 1:07 of the overtime.
Meier scored his fifth goal after Nikolaj Ehlers was called for interference.
The Jets’ Kyle Connor tied it with over three minutes left in regulation with a backhander from in front of the net off a shot by Dominic Toninato. Toninato’s shot came off a pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois. Both were credited with an assist.
Connor’s seventh goal extended his point streak to six games. He has seven goals and six assists in the stretch.
“Those guys that are goal scorers, when they start coming into their prime, they have a high expectation to score goals and they have a real nose for that net and when to get there,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said.
“He knows how to do it.”
Reimer had 34 saves as the Sharks snapped Winnipeg’s four-game winning streak.
Tomas Hertl scored his third goal just under a minute into the second period. Nick Bonino started the scoring play, bringing the puck up the ice deep into Winnipeg territory and slipping it to Meier, who found an open Hertl just outside the crease.
“It was a crazy day but a big game for us. … I’m proud of every guy in the room right now,” Hertl said.
Winnipeg’s Hellebuyck turned back 34 shots.
The Jets extended their point streak to six games (4-0-2) as they wrapped up their California road trip at 2-0-1.
“They inserted some guys that were chomping at the bit to get in the lineup, and it looked like it was the last game of a road trip for us,” Jets forward Blake Wheeler said.
“No excuse though, we’ve got to be better than that through two periods, we expect more out of ourselves. I thought it was a positive sign in the third period, we pushed really hard and finally got rewarded there. Sometimes getting a point out of down game like that is a real positive.”
Meier has at least one point in seven of the team’s eight games this season.
San Jose placed forwards Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen and Matt Nieto, defensemen Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Radim Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Boughner in COVID-19 protocol. Sharks assistant coach John MacLean assumed head coaching duties and development coach Mike Ricci also joined the bench.
“It was a tremendous effort,” MacLean said. “(We) had great energy and they all knew they had to play. … The bench was lively. They were pretty much coaching themselves. They were excited to get out there and play, so that’s always fun to see.”
COUTURE OUT
Sharks center Logan Couture missed the game because he didn’t feel well. He was not placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
AHL ADDS
The Sharks called up five players for Saturday’s game from their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda: Forwards John Leonard and Nick Merkley and defensemen Jaycob Megna, Nicolas Meloche and Ryan Merkley (no relation to Nick Merkley).
MILESTONES
Sharks defensemen Ryan Merkley and Santeri Hatakka made their NHL debuts, and forward Rudolfs Balcers played in his 100th NHL game on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Winnipeg: Open a seven-game homestand against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
San Jose: Face Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday in the third game of a five-game homestand.
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