San Jose @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 20, 2018 ) Winnipeg 5, San Jose 3

The Winnipeg Jets have lots of momentum entering Tuesday’s home matchup with the San Jose Sharks, and as if they needed another breakout offensive performer, forward Jack Roslovic provided just that last week. In his third season in the NHL, Roslovic earned NHL first star of the week honors after scoring five goals with an assist in four games - including his first career hat trick in Winnipeg’s 9-3 thrashing of Anaheim on Saturday.

“Four games back after the break, I was well rested and our power play was clicking,” Roslovic told reporters after Monday’s practice, during which he continued to skate on the second line after playing on the bottom two lines for most of the season. “I was just the lucky product of it.” The Jets have won three in a row and seven of their past nine, but the Central Division leaders expect a tough challenge from a San Jose squad that is six points behind first-place Calgary in the Pacific Division. The Sharks have won two in a row and nine of their past 12 after Saturday’s 3-2 home overtime victory over Arizona, getting Brent Burns’ 13th career overtime goal (tied for most in league history) in San Jose’s first game after a 10-day break. “By the end, I think both teams were exhausted,” Sharks forward Logan Couture told the media afterward. “It’s nice to get two points.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (30-16-7): Burns leads the Sharks with 57 points and his 47 assists rank fourth in the NHL through Sunday. Forward Joe Thornton picked up his 999th point with the Sharks, assisting on Kevin Labanc’s goal Saturday, while center Joe Pavelski has six points (four assists) during his current three-game point streak. Goaltender Martin Jones made 31 saves against Arizona and is tied for second in the league with 24 wins.

ABOUT THE JETS (34-16-2): Winnipeg matched a franchise-record for goals in a game against Anaheim, racing to a franchise-record 6-0 lead after just one period. Center Bryan Little finished with two goals and one assist, giving him 14 points (seven goals) in his past 12 games while forward Blake Wheeler began the week with 54 assists, four off the league lead. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is tied with Jones for wins with 24 and is 3-0-0 in his past three starts.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose D Erik Karlsson missed his fourth straight game Saturday with a lower-body injury, and remains questionable for Tuesday.

2. Winnipeg D Dustin Byfuglien, sidelined since Dec. 29 with an ankle injury, practiced Monday and the Jets are hopeful he can return Tuesday.

3. The matchup features two of the top-scoring teams in the NHL through Sunday, as San Jose is third with 3.58 goals per game and the Jets sit fourth at 3.52.

PREDICTION: Jets 5, Sharks 4