Antti Niemi and San Jose Sharks shutout Winnipeg Jets in 2-0 win - NHL Update
The San Jose Sharks shutout the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, January 12, 2012, 2-0, at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Sharks were disciplined and goaltender, Antti Niemi, had a great game, keeping out the Jets' offence.
San Jose moved up to third position in the Western Conference with the win, as they brought their record up to 24-11-5.
For the Jets, it was the second straight defeat and the fourth out of the five games they played in January.
Winnipeg’s record now stands at a poor 20-18-5, with 45 points and remain just a single point behind the Washington Capitals, occupying the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jets’ coach, Claude Noel, worried about his players’ lack of confidence after another defeat.
“For me, it's going to be more about dealing with the morale of our team", Noel said.
"The team isn't going to be feeling very good right now and that's probably one of more of the issues we're going to have to deal with".
Niemi got his second shutout of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, with a brilliant performance in front of the goal.
The goaltender made 24 saves during the game to keep out Winnipeg Jets.
Jets’ forward, Nik Antropov praised San Jose Sharks and their keeper, but stressed that his team was not good enough in front of the goal when it mattered.
"(San Jose) played a good game, but it's up to us", Antropov said. "I don't think we pushed hard enough. The third period was just unacceptable. It was a flat period, nothing was going on”.
"We've got to blame ourselves, nobody else".
Jets’ goaltender, Ondrej Pavelec also had a good game in front of the net, making 35 saves, but unlike Niemi, could not keep out the Sharks’ forwards.
"It was a tough game tonight against a very good team", Pavelec said. "They did everything to win the game".
The first period remained scoreless as both sides probed for an opening, and with both keepers on song, the offenses had their work cut out.
Sharks’ Logan Couture broke the deadlock in the second period at 13:38. Defenseman, Brent Burns, picked up a brilliant assist with a run from his own end and sent a deft pass to Couture, who made no mistake in putting the puck in the back of the net.
With the game at 1-0, the Jets did not look capable of turning things around at all.
The third period saw San Jose Sharks completely running riot, firing shot after shot at Pavelec.
Brad Winchester beat the Jets’ goaltender and put the game to bed at 2:33.
The Jets were unable to mount any significant attack and in the end, Niemi got his shutout.
Sharks will face the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, while Winnipeg Jets look to put in a better performance against New Jersey Devils.
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