Martin Jones made 38 saves, and Logan Couture scored two goals en route to a 4-0 shutout victory against the Winnipeg Jets at the Tank on Saturday.
Tim Heed and Tomas Hertl also scored as the San Jose Sharks improved to 12-8-2 this season. The Sharks have won four straight against Winnipeg dating back to last season.
Jones was the star once again. The Sharks netminder was pulled early in the second period Friday against Vegas after giving up three goals in a 5-4 overtime road loss. A shutout is the perfect way to bounce back and earn that 10th win of the season. The 10 wins is tied for 11th in the league, but his .930 save percentage is tied for third among goalies with at least 17 starts.
There is a dark cloud lingering over Jones' latest triumph. . He was being evaluated after the game for what appeared to be a lower-body injury suffered in the third period. Fingers crossed that it's nothing serious. Wouldn't surprise me though because it is just one of those seasons.
Onto something more positive.
Couture stayed white hot with another multi-goal performance. The 28-year-old has four multi-goal games this season to lead SJ. His latest feat increased his team leading goal total to 14 with five goals coming in his past eight games. Not to pile on, but Couture also leads the Sharks in power play goals, short-handed goals and is tied for the team lead in GWG's.
Other notable nuggets...
- If Jones does have to miss any time for an injury the Sharks won't be in a total world of hurt. Aaron Dell has proved his worth on more than one occasion. This season Dell is 2-3-1 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average.
- Tim Heed scored after being a healthy scratch the previous two games.
- The Sharks scored four different types of goals in the game - an even strength goal, a power play, a shorthanded goal and an empty netter. Now that's efficiency.
- The Sharks moved into the top spot in the Wild Card and one point behind Calgary for third in the Pacific.
- Four different defenseman (1g 4a) had a point in the game (Dillon, Burns, Heed, Braun).
- The 38 saves was the most Jones has ever made in a shutout. BTW, Marty has pitched 17 career shutouts.
The Sharks next game is Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Thanks for reading, Steve