Photo credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS, TREVOR HAGAN AP PHOTO

By Pearl Allison Lo

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 38 of 40 shots, as the Winnipeg Jets got back into a playoff spot with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Tuesday.

San Jose did not lose in effort, outshooting Winnipeg in the second and third with a games’ worth of shots, 33-12. It was the first game in a seven-game road trip as the Sharks fell six points behind the Jets. San Jose did not lose ground to Calgary though.

The two goals the Sharks’ managed to get came via Joe Pavelski. Joe Thornton had assists on both goals.

Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele led Winnipeg with three points apiece, two goals, one assist and one goal, two assists respectively.

Penalties and special teams made a big impact. The Jets scored on two of the three penalties San Jose committed. Conversely, the Sharks went 0-for-3 on the power play. San Jose’s John Scott left the game in the third at 14:22 with a game misconduct.

Winnipeg split their goals between the Sharks’ goalies.

The Jets first used an early goal and two power play goals to take out Antti Niemi in the first.

Adam Lowry scored first, 1:10 into the first period, aided by Andrew Ladd. Lowry was basically parallel to the net when he scored. Behind the net, Brent Burns was going for the puck off the boards but was hit by Lowry. Burns recovered but then lost the puck to Ladd, who passed it back to Lowry. Lowry was able to score with Scott Hannan defending in front of him.

Winnipeg then both doubled and tripled their lead with the man advantage, both goals about midway during each penalty.

Scheifele scored first, helped by Toby Enstrom and Wheeler at 9:39.

Ladd scored at 13:01, assisted by Jacob Trouba and Michael Frolik.

The 3-0 score brought in Andrew Stalock to replace Niemi.

San Jose was outhit 8-2 during the period.

Pavelski got a goal back in the second similar in time to Lowry’s. Pavelski scored at 1:06, aided by Thornton.

Burns had a one-on-one opportunity during the period, which he missed.

Then Wheeler worked on Stalock, who was perfect against the Jets with two shutouts.

Wheeler reestablished a three-goal lead at 7:05. He was helped by Drew Stafford and Scheifele who battled for the puck to Stalock’s left. Stafford eventually got the puck and was denied as he went behind the net to shoot it as he fell to the ground. Stalock made that initial save without his stick, but Wheeler was able to poke the puck through afterwards.

Wheeler, Stafford and Scheifele struck again when Wheeler hit the puck into the net. The puck came into the air after flying off the Sharks’ Justin Braun’s stick to make it 5-1 at 9:12.

Close chances in the third included Pavelec just getting his foot out in time to stop the puck and Burns’ shot ringing off the goalpost.

San Jose got their second goal at 17:35 as Pavelski deflected Burns’ shot.

Game notes: It was also the Sharks’ first loss at MTS Centre. Overall, the Jets had more hits and blocked shots, 23-11 and 23-13 respectively. Wheeler now has a five game point streak and goals in two straight games. San Jose’s road trip continues when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs, Thursday at 4:30pm.