Sharks top Jets in OT after coach, seven players put in COVID-19 protocol

SAN JOSE --The San Jose Sharks, playing without their coach and seven players in NHL COVID-19 protocol, defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in overtime at SAP Center on Saturday.

San Jose coach Bob Boughner, forwards Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen and Matt Nieto, and defensemen Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Radim Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic were unavailable, as was forward and captain Logan Couture, who has a non-COVID illness.
Timo Meier scored a power-play goal at 1:07 of overtime after Kyle Connor tied it 1-1 at 16:48 of the third period.
"It was a tremendous effort," said Sharks assistant coach John MacLean, who filled in for Boughner. "[The players] had great energy and they all knew they had to play."
Meier scored from the right circle after Nikolaj Ehlers was called for interference on Sharks defenseman Brent Burns.
"It [stinks] when that happens close to the end," Burns said of the tie. "But it was good to get the two points right after that."
Tomas Hertl scored, and James Reimer made 34 saves for San Jose (5-3-0), which had lost three straight.
"That's what adversity does, right?" Reimer said. "It forces you to depend on each other and bring out the best in each other."

Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves for Winnipeg (4-2-2), which had its four-game winning streak end.
"We wish their players the best, but I think it's kind of the new normal that we're going to have to get used to," Jets forward Adam Lowry said. "Guys are going to have to step up when other guys are out of the lineup. Guys are going to kind of have to deal with the uncertainty a little bit."
Hertl gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 54 seconds of the second period after Meier set him up with a pass in front.
NOTES:The Sharks recalled forwards John Leonard and Nick Merkley, and defensemen Ryan Merkley (no relation), Jaycob Megna and Nicolas Meloche from San Jose of the American Hockey League on Saturday. ... Ryan Merkley and defenseman Santeri Hatakka each made their NHL debut. Merkley played 16:11 and Hatakka had one shot and one hit in 16:21. … Megna had one shot playing 13:42 in his Sharks debut after signing a one-year contract July 28. It was his first NHL game since April 5, 2019 with the Anaheim Ducks. … San Jose forward Rudolfs Balcers played his 100th NHL game. … Jets forward Blake Wheeler had one shot and three hits in 18:21 after missing five games in COVID-19 protocol. … Connor (six goals, seven assists) extended his point streak to six games. … Winnipeg forward Pierre-Luc Dubois had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (six goals, four assists).