Under the bright lights of the SAP Center, michael misa finished the game in sudden death to hand the San Jose Sharks a 2-1 overtime victory, a moment that closed a night of fine margins and roster shifts for the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
Michael Misa’s Overtime Finish
The Sharks’ win arrived in overtime when Michael Misa beat Connor Hellebuyck, completing a game that had opened early for the Jets with Morgan Barron giving Winnipeg an initial lead. Will Smith answered for San Jose in the third period to level the score and force extra time, where Misa found the decisive play just over a minute in.
A Game of Small Margins for the Jets
The afternoon carried the weight of recent scheduling and wear: the Sharks were on the second half of a back-to-back after a victory the previous night, while the Jets were trying to move past an overtime loss in their prior outing. Winnipeg generated chances and weathered San Jose power-play moments early, but late third-period chances and a tight overtime left little room for error.
Special teams punctuated the evening. The Sharks received multiple power-play opportunities in the first period and capitalized on time in the offensive zone throughout the game, while Winnipeg’s penalty kill stood firm on several occasions. Faceoffs and possession swings—notably a strong first-period showing in the circle by San Jose—helped shape momentum in a match decided by a single sudden-death strike.
Voices from the Bench and the Ice
Walker Duehr, set to make his Winnipeg Jets debut in San Jose, spoke before the game about his approach: “I just want to play my game, play a simple game, fast, hard, and be disruptive out there. Be physical, be good in my own end. Just be a simple and fast game. ” Walker Duehr, right wing, Winnipeg Jets, had spent the prior season with the Sharks organization and the San Jose Barracuda, and joined Winnipeg on a one-year contract after productive conversations in the off-season.
Scott Arniel, head coach, Winnipeg Jets, framed the decision to insert Duehr into the lineup, noting the player’s size and skating and referencing his opportunity to practice with the NHL group: “We really didn’t have the opportunity yet to get a look at him. I think he’s earned it. That’s why he’s been up here and been able to practice with us all last week was real helpful for him. ” Arniel also addressed immediate injury concerns that shaped the night: a lower-body, week-to-week status for Vladislav Namestnikov after an accidental collision with captain Adam Lowry, and the hope that veteran Mark Scheifele could play after getting through the night following contact late in the overtime loss prior to this matchup.
The Jets’ lines moved to cover absences and reintegrate players. Haydn Fleury appeared to slot back in after a scary injury earlier in the season that had left the defenceman with a broken nose and a bruised back, a step toward stabilizing a back end already missing key puck movers and a top defenseman.
On the ice, individual plays mattered: Morgan Barron opened scoring for Winnipeg, Will Smith tied the game early in the third with his 18th goal of the season, and Michael Misa ultimately delivered the overtime winner that decided a tightly contested game.
Back in the SAP Center, the bright lights that framed the opening scene now carried a different charge: celebration for San Jose and questions for Winnipeg about depth and timing. For fans who watched the overtime winner, one detail lingered—michael misa’s finish remained the final image, a single moment that turned a night of competing narratives into a clear result.
