Winnipeg played in Anaheim on Friday where they led 3-1 in the third period but let it slip away, finding themselves down by one late in the game. They managed to tie it and force overtime but ultimately fell 5-4, still picking up a point. Alex Iafallo (10), Gabriel Vilardi (23), Elias Salomonsson (1), and Kyle Connor (27) scored for Winnipeg, with Salomonsson netting his first NHL goal. Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves in his first game back from the Olympics, while Winnipeg dropped to 23-26-9 and sits 10 points back of the final Wild-Card spot heading into Sunday’s matchup.

The Sharks were in a similar situation Saturday, leading by three but surrendering four different leads to find themselves in a 4-4 tie in the third period. They regained the lead on Shakir Mukhamadullin’s slap shot, which stood as the game-winner in a 5-4 regulation victory over the Edmonton Oilers. San Jose currently sits five points ahead of Winnipeg in the Wild-Card race with a 28-25-4 record.

It was confirmed Saturday that Jets centreman Vladislav Namestnikov has joined the growing injury list and is week-to-week after leaving Friday’s game against the Ducks with a lower-body injury. Walker Duehr will make his Jets debut Sunday in place of Namestnikov against his former club.

“It’ll be good to play against them,” said Duehr after Saturday’s practice. “I just want to play my game, play a simple game, fast, hard, and be disruptive out there. Be physical, be good in my own end. Just be a simple and fast game.”

The 28-year-old played eight games with the Sharks last season, scoring twice while adding nine points in 16 appearances with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL. He’s tallied 26 points (12G, 14A) in 39 games with the Manitoba Moose this season.

Defenceman Haydn Fleury will slot in for the first time since suffering a scary injury on Jan. 6 against Las Vegas. Fleury was knocked over and slid hard into the end boards, resulting in a broken nose and bruised back that required him to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.

As the calendar flips to March, Sunday afternoon marks the second of three meetings between Winnipeg and San Jose. The Jets dropped the season-series opener 2-1 in regulation on Nov. 7, 2025.