Preview: Winnipeg Jets vs San Jose Sharks

When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way. From your first cigarette, to your last dyin’ day.

The Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks dance fight it out on Tuesday night, as two of the top teams in the West face off for the second time this year.

The last time these teams met, the Jets won 5-3 in San Jose via Mason Appleton’s first NHL goal and a Nikolaj Ehlers hat trick.

This time around, there will be no Ehlers, but the Jets will be boosted by the return of Dustin Byfuglien after a lengthy stay on the injured list. On the San Jose side, Erik Karlsson’s status for the game is in question, having left practice early yesterday. Karlsson hasn’t played since January 16th.

Enemy Territory

San Jose Sharks Coverage: Fear the Fin

Last Jets Game:

Winnipeg Jets 9-3 Anaheim Ducks

The Jets offence never got going in this one UNTIL THEY SCORED SIX FIRST PERIOD GOALS EN ROUTE TO A 9-3 DRUBBING, WOOOOOO!

Last Sharks Game:

San Jose Sharks 3-2 (OT) Arizona Coyotes

Brent Burns scored the OT winner in a battle of Pacific Division teams.

Players to watch:

Winnipeg Jets

Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images

Dustin Byfuglien looks ready to return after missing the last 14 games with a lower body injury. Buff is a person who typically sees a lot of ice time, but how will he transition back into game shape? I will set the over/under at 25 minutes of ice time, because I just don’t know how you say no to this guy.

Byfuglien had 29 points in 33 games prior to this injury.

San Jose Sharks

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Not that he’s said it, but I am inclined to believe that we are seeing the last professional games of Joe Thornton. Jumbo Joe is now 39, has been relegated to the Sharks’ third line, and his point production hasn’t been this bad in decades.

Thornton sits 10th all-time in assists, three back of Gordie Howe in ninth and 17 back of Steve Yzerman in eighth. I’m quite confident he’ll pass Mr. Hockey, but Stevie Y may be out of reach. He’s 16th in points, four back of Teemu Selanne and 14 back of Stan Mikita.

Regardless of whether or not he hangs up the skates at the end of the year, Thornton has had a terrific career, marred only by the absence of a Stanley Cup win. He is the only player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 to crack the 90-assist barrier, and he did it twice immediately following the lockout season.

During the 2005-06 season, he was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Boston Bruins for Wayne Primeau, Brad Stuart and Marco Sturm. Having already scored 33 points in 24 games for San Jose, he put up another 92(!) points in 58 games for Boston, winning the Art Ross Trophy and being awarded the Hart Trophy as well.

He has represented Canada seven times, winning gold in four of those occasions.

The guy’s a legend, is what I’m getting at. First ballot hall of famer.