The Winnipeg Jets make their one and only visit to SAP Center this season to take on the San Jose Sharks tonight. The last time these two teams met, the Jets destroyed the Sharks by a score of 8-3 on Oct. 18. It was just one of the Jets’ eight wins to start the season.
Since then, Winnipeg has not let its foot off the gas. The Jets are first in the Central Division with a 22-9-1 record.
Before jumping into the game, let’s take a moment to call out the NHL for some absolute BS. Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky toed the NHL line on Saturday night when he DID NOT say anything to the media about some of the crap calls by the refs during the game against the Utah Hockey Club. In fact, he went out of his way not to comment, drawing the ire of some fans.
However, the NHL still felt fit to fine Warsofsky for something he said in the game. Seriously?
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky fined $25,000: https://t.co/jmqkMYmGM2 pic.twitter.com/pXIcxp2FZm
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 17, 2024
How much you want to bet if Warsofsky knew he was going to be fined, he would have had a lot more choice words for the league and its officiating after the game?
Here’s what he told the media today after practice.
Warsofsky on controlling his emotions
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) December 17, 2024
“it's something that I'm trying to get better at. At the same time, I'm passionate. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Sometimes it gets the best to me, but at the end of the day, I gotta have our players back, and that's not gonna change.”
“It’s something that I’m trying to get better at. At the same time, I’m passionate. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Sometimes it gets the best of me, but at the end of the day, I gotta have our players back, and that’s not gonna change,” Warsofsky said. (via Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News).
The Jets made NHL history today when the team signed the first Chinese-born player to an NHL contract.
HISTORY. MADE. 🗣️
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 17, 2024
The #NHLJets have signed forward Kevin He to a three-year, entry-level contract! Becoming the first Chinese-born player to sign a contract in the @NHL ✍️ pic.twitter.com/AX68TGm338
Kevin He plays in the OHL for the Niagara IceDogs. He was picked 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. While He was born in Beijing, his family moved to Canada shortly after his birth. He began playing minor ice hockey in the Montreal area around the age of six.
This will mark the 500th career NHL game for the Jets’ Neal Pionk. He started his career with the New York Rangers, where he played 101 games. Since then, he has played the past six seasons with the Jets.
The top scorer for the Jets is Kyle Connor with 38 points in 32 games. He’s 14th in the NHL in points. Connor also leads the team with 17 goals, which is eighth in the league.
Connor Hellebuyck leads the NHL with 19 wins. He’s 19-5-1 for the season. He has a .926 save percentage and a 2.11 goals-against average.
San Jose Sharks lines tonight
According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, here are the lines for tonight. Peng reports that Ty Dellandrea will sit and Carl Grundstrom will be in. Alexandar Georgiev will start in the net.
Forwards
Barclay Goodrow – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Nikolai Kovalenko – Macklin Celebrini – Tyler Toffoli
William Eklund – Alex Wennberg – Will Smith
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Luke Kunin
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Timothy Liljegren
Shakir Mukhamadullin – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Alexandar Georgiev
Vitek Vanecek
Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks lines for Dec. 17, 2024
The Jets held an optional practice today, so we’re going off of Monday’s lines from practice. Here’s what the Jets’ site reports the lines will likely look like tonight.
Forwards
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabe Vilardi
Cole Perfetti – Vladislav Namestnikov – Nikita Chibrikov
Nino Niederreiter – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron – Rasmus Kupari – Alex Iafallo
Defense
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Haydn Fleury – Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley – Dylan Coghlan
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
How to watch Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks Dec. 17, 2024
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. CT at SAP Center in San Jose.
Sharks fans can catch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks & SAP Center app.
Jets fans can watch on TSN 3 or listen on the radio at 680 CJOB and Power 97.
