San Jose won because six different goal-scorers converted at even strength while Winnipeg generated zero power play goals on five opportunities, a 0-for-5 performance that buried any chance of a comeback.
⚡TURNING POINT
Chernyshov's power play goal at 6:26 of the first period erased Winnipeg's early lead and immediately neutralized the crowd momentum that Koepke's opening goal had generated. With the score level at 1–1, Winnipeg's structural advantage as the home team evaporated — and San Jose never trailed again.
🏆WHY SJS WON
1
Even-Strength Depth: Five EV goals from five different scorers — no single line carried the load, meaning Winnipeg had no defensive adjustment to neutralize it.
2
Puck Control: Giveaways: SJS 10, WPG 15 — Winnipeg's 15 giveaways created the transition opportunities that fueled the second-period breakout.
3
Shot Generation: 33 shots to Winnipeg's 26, with Misa and Smith each posting 5 SOG — sustained offensive-zone pressure prevented Winnipeg from establishing any counter-rhythm.
📉WHY WPG LOST
1
Special Teams Collapse: Power play 0/5 (0.0%) — five chances to cut a deficit and zero conversions meant every momentum window slammed shut.
2
Giveaway Rate: 15 giveaways against 10 for SJS — chronic puck mismanagement turned Winnipeg's own zone into a scoring funnel for San Jose's transition game.
3
Faceoff Dominance Wasted: Faceoff %: WPG 57.4% — winning possession at the dot produced no results when giveaways and failed power plays negated every clean start.
Three Stars
Macklin Celebrini1st
SJS, C
1G 2A 3PSOG 3+/- +2
Celebrini's presence on the turning-point power play goal and his third-period insurance marker bookended San Jose's dominant performance, with his playmaking threading through the game's most consequential moments.
William Eklund2nd
SJS, L
1G 2A 3PSOG 3+/- +2
Eklund assisted on the tying power play goal and scored the final second-period goal that made the game a five-goal deficit, personally accounting for production across all three of San Jose's critical scoring phases.
Will Smith3rd
SJS, C
1G 1A 2PSOG 5+/- +2
Smith led all skaters in shots on goal with 5 and converted one himself, generating relentless pressure that Winnipeg's defense could not consistently contain.
·Momentum Shift
Winnipeg out-shot San Jose 11–5 in the first period and held the structural edge at home — but the second period flipped to 13–7 in San Jose's favor, a swing of 12 in shot differential. That reversal turned a tight 2–1 game into a 5–1 rout by the time the buzzer sounded, and Winnipeg never regained territorial control.
