Nikolaj Ehlers had three points in less than 12 minutes of play Friday night to lead the Winnipeg Jets to an 8-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Ehlers finished the game with two goals and an assist, while Vladislav Namestnikov and Neal Pionk each had a goal and three assists. Cole Perfetti had two goals and an assist, then Kyle Connor also scored.
Ehlers had only two assists in three games this season before Friday’s game. A four-point performance would have tied him for a career high for most points in a game.
With a goal Friday night, Tyler Toffoli became the first Sharks player since Tomas Hertl in 2013-2014 to score at least four goals in his first five games with the team. Toffoli, who returned to Winnipeg after finishing last season there, also had an assist. Luke Kunin and Fabian Zetterlund scored the other goals for the Sharks.
The Sharks have now lost in each of their five games this season, while the Jets are undefeated in four games.
Ehlers started his evening in the second minute of play, when he restarted the attack with speed. Once deep in the territory, he handed the puck to the blue line and Morrissey was eventually able to score thanks to a good throw.
Then in the middle of the period during a power play, Ehlers was forgotten at the bottom of the circle and he took advantage of a nice pass from the slot from Gabe Vilardi to score his first goal of the season, on a reception.
After seeing Toffoli reduce the gap on the power play, Ehlers came back to give Winnipeg a two-goal lead. This time, a superb cross pass from Perfetti allowed Ehlers to be alone in front of Mackenzie Blackwood and to score with a good wrist shot.
Pionk then scored before the end of the first period, then the two teams exchanged goals in the middle period. Perfetti scored his two goals in the third period to put the game out of reach for the Sharks.
Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t very busy in front of the Jets cage, but he stopped 19 pucks.
