Ehlers and Perfetti score 2 goals each and fast-starting Jets hammer Sharks 8-3

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti scored two goals each as the Winnipeg Jets stayed unbeaten with an 8-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.

Perfetti added two assists while Ehlers had one as Winnipeg improved to 4-0-0.

Vlad Namestnikov and Neal Pionk had a goal and three assists each. Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey also scored, while Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo pitched in with two assists each.

Connor Hellebuyck, who started in his 500th NHL game, made 19 saves for Winnipeg.

Former Jets forward Tyler Toffoli scored on a first-period power play for San Jose, the first time the Jets had given up a power-play goal this season. Toffoli also assisted on Fabian Zetterlund’s third-period goal. Luke Kunin also scored.

San Jose’s Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 13 of 18 shots before being pulled at the 1:46 mark of the second period. He was replaced by Vitek Vanecek who then made 15 saves.

Jets: They came out firing in the first period, taking a 4-1 lead after one. They also took advantage of San Jose penalties, scoring one on a two-man advantage.

Sharks: They appeared tired after losing 4-2 to the Blackhawks in Chicago on Thursday night. Taking three penalties in the opening 20 minutes did not help their cause.

Shortly after Toffoli pulled the Sharks within 3-1 late in the first period, Pionk scored with 1:12 left to restore Winnipeg’s three-goal lead.

The Jets were 4 for 7 on the power play to improve to 7 for 14 this season.

The Jets finish their four-game homestand when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. The Sharks return home to host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

San Jose Sharks' Tyler Toffoli (73) tips the puck past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, second from left, as Jets' Hadyn Fleury (24) defends during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot from San Jose Sharks' Luke Kunin (11) as Cole Perfetti (91) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Josh Morrissey (44) and Colin Miller (6) celebrate after Morrissey's goal against the San Jose Sharks during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) saves the shot from Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) as Cody Ceci (4) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the shot from San Jose Sharks' Henry Thrun (3) as Dylan DeMelo (2) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) and Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrate after Ehlers' goal as San Jose Sharks' Mikael Granlund (64) skates past during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers (27) and Cole Perfetti (91) celebrate after Ehlers' goal against the San Jose Sharks during first-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

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Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)