Tuesday night was another brutal performance from the Jets' offence. Stymied by Manitoban James Reimer for the second time in just three weeks, Winnipeg recorded its third shutout loss in its past seven games.
Yes, it has been that tough to score as of late.
Six different players recorded four shots for Winnipeg, but even in directing 41 pucks on net, the highest paid superstars couldn't buy a goal. And it has been that way for a while.
Winnipeg's struggling power play didn't help matters on the night, as it laid its typical goose egg, finishing the night 0/3 with the extra skater. The Jets have just one goal to prove over their 30 most recent man advantages.
Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 27 of the 30 shots he faced in the loss, while seeing his record fall to 32-24-2 on the season. For Reimer, it was his third shutout of the season, and 28th of his 13-year NHL career.
The win was San Jose's first in a span of 10 games, which just so happened to have come the last time it faced off against the Jets.
Noah Gregor led the way for the Sharks with the game's opening goal, before picking up a helper on an early second period tally from Kevin Labanc. San Jose put the Jets out of their misery with a late-game power play marker off the stick of recent trade acquisition Martin Kaut.
The loss put Winnipeg at 41-31-3 on the season and lessened its lead over Calgary to two points for the final spot in the Western Conference wild card race. With both the Flames and Nashville Predators winning their games on Tuesday, the emphasis on finding ways to widen the gap is at a premium.
"It's a tough loss, for sure," Jets forward Mark Scheifele said. "We're in the thick of it, we're in the fire, and that's where things are molded."
Scheifele, who is owed $12.25 million for the remainder of this season and next, is paid to score goals. And he did so at the beginning of the season, to the tune of 38 times, which has tied his career-high.
But with no goals in his last nine games, the streaky centre needs to find a way to come alive in time for the season's final two weeks.
And it's not just him either.
Blake Wheeler hasn't bulged the twine in over 20 games. Kyle Connor has scored once in his last 15, while Pierre-Luc Dubois has just one goal dating back to February 22.
If there ever was a time for an offensive intervention in Winnipeg, it would be now.
“There comes a point when your personal pride has to take over,” Bowness said post-game. “If someone has to go in there and point that out to them, then there is a big problem right there. As I said, we’re going to find out what we’re made of and we’re going to find out what everyone in that room is made of over the next little while.”
Next up for the Jets is a Friday night home game against Andrew Copp and the Detroit Red Wings. Winnipeg will look for some revenge against a team that recorded a 7-5 win at Little Caesar's Arena back on January 10. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM central time.