Kahkonen shines, but Sharks shut out by stingy Winnipeg Jets

Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen made 39 saves, including 16 in the second period, but the San Jose Sharks were unable to generate any offense against the stingy Winnipeg Jets, losing 1-0 and getting shut out for the eighth time this season.

The Sharks, facing several headwinds, had 18 shots but were unable to beat goalie Connor Hellebuyck, as Morgan Barron’s even-strength goal at the 17:47 mark of the first period stood up as the winner for Winnipeg.

A failed clearing attempt by defenseman Kyle Burroughs gave the Jets possession inside the Sharks’ zone. The puck made its way to Adam Lowry, whose shot from inside the blue line went off Barron and got past Kahkonen for a 1-0 Jets lead 17:47 into the game.

The Sharks (14-33-5) registered the first four shots on goal but were outshot 15-0 over the final 15-plus minutes of the first by the Jets (32-14-5).

Kahkonen appeared to be injured near the end of the third period as he was making a save on Jets center Sean Monahan. He skated gingerly toward the Sharks bench in the late going as San Jose pulled him for the extra attacker, trying to tie the game.

The Sharks were playing their first game this month after a two-week layoff, and now figure to be without Tomas Hertl and captain Logan Couture, their top two centers, for an extended period of time.

Hertl had surgery Monday to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee and is expected to miss several weeks, and Couture has had a recurrence of a lower-body injury that already cost him the first half of the season.

Without Couture and alternate captain Hertl, the Sharks made both Mikael Granlund and Luke Kunin alternate captains.

The Sharks lost another centerman, Nico Sturm, with 11:10 left in the third period. Sturm was carrying the puck along the boards inside the Jets’ zone when he was checked by Logan Stanley. Sturm went into the boards, lost his balance, and landed partially on the back of his head.

Sturm was able to skate off the ice under his own power as he headed toward the Sharks’ dressing room.

The Sharks (14-33-5) end the quick road trip to Western Canada on Thursday when they play the Calgary Flames.