After a ten-day break, the San Jose Sharks returned to the ice and picked up a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.
Although both teams were coming off a lengthy break, neither side showed any rust, regardless of there being no goals in the first period. The Sharks, as usual, controlled the puck at 5-on-5 and generated eight shots. However, it was the Coyotes who put together more scoring chances with eight, while the Sharks only had three.
The second period brought a little more excitement in the scoring department. Connor Garland opened up the scoring for the Coyotes after he capitalized on a Sharks turnover. Roughly three minutes later, the Sharks were able to tie it up courtesy of Kevin Labanc, who jumped on a rebound chance. A few seconds later, Joe Pavelski gave the Sharks the lead.
Richard Panik tied the game for a few seconds after the initial goal was waved off. Then after a hockey operations reviewed it was deemed a good goal; however, after a coach’s challenge by Head Coach Peter DeBoer, it was waved off again due to goaltender interference.
In the third period, the Sharks were making life difficult for themselves. Not only were they coming into the period on the penalty kill, but they took two more penalties on top of it. They were still able to kill all three penalties, but the Coyotes tied the game at two with a goal from Josh Archibald.
60 minutes were not enough, sending the game to 3-on-3 hockey to decide a winner. In overtime, Brent Burns scored the game-winning goal after receiving the puck from Tomas Hertl and getting around Panik to beat Darcy Kuemper.
Pregame
Over a week away from the ice due to the National Hockey League All-Star break and team’s bye week, the San Jose Sharks return to host the Arizona Coyotes tonight, beginning the second half of their season.
The Sharks are currently in second place in the Pacific Division with 65 points, trailing the Calgary Flames by five points and three points up the third place Vegas Golden Knights. Barring any catastrophic collapse by any of these teams, it looks as though the three will fight for positioning in the Pacific.
Although the Coyotes may be out of the Pacific Division race, their playoff chances are still alive, sitting two points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Lines
Tonight’s lines will feature Joe Pavelski moving to the wing alongside Logan Couture and Timo Meier, while Joe Thornton moves down to the third line alongside Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen. On the blueline, Marc-Edouard Vlasic returns while Erik Karlsson remains out of the lineup (this time due to illness, not injury), which is why Tim Heed will draw into the defensive pairings tonight.
We’re back! Vlasic returns, but EK65 isn’t quite ready yet. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/mG9HQoHJta
— Fear the Fin (@fearthefin) February 2, 2019
Meanwhile, this is how the Coyotes could potentially look tonight:
Clayton Keller — Jordan Weal — Christian Fischer
Richard Panik — Derek Stepan — Vinnie Hinostroza
Alex Galchenyuk — Nick Cousins — Conor Garland
Lawson Crouse — Mario Kempe — Josh Archibald
Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Niklas Hjalmarsson
Alex Goligoski — Jordan Oesterle
Kevin Connauton — Ilya Lyubushkin
Darcy Kuemper
Calvin Pickard
Finally, using Wave Intel, here’s how these teams stack against one another:
Where to Watch
Puck drop from SAP Center is at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC Sports California, with the radio call on 98.5 KFOX. Check back then for live updates and reactions.
Hey everyone, Eddie here and I’ll be liveblogging the return of Sharks hockey!
First Period
20:00: Let’s get off on the right foot with a win tonight!
19:01: Timo Meier with a scoring chance, but his shot goes above the net.
16:08: Penalty. Brenden Dillon is called for slashing.
15:25: Solid stop by Martin Jones on Nick Cousins.
14:06: Sharks kill the Dillon penalty.
12:30: Power Play. Sharks will get their first opportunity of the night on the man-advantage.
11:28: Evander Kane with a shot, but Darcy Kuemper with the blocker save.
10:30: Coyotes with a successful penalty kill.
7:57: Melker Karlsson with a shot that gets deflected and goes wide.
6:42: Brent Burns springs Evander Kane for a scoring chance, but Kuemper denies him.
3:05: Kuemper almost gave up an easy scoring chance for Kane, but somehow the puck remained out.
:04: Power Play. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is called for interference and Sharks get their second power play.
Second Period
20:00: Sharks will begin the period on the power play.
19:00: Burns with a shot from the blue line, but Kuemper stops it.
18:04: Coyotes are able to kill Ekman-Larsson’s penalty.
12:08: The Coyotes attempt to jam the puck past Jones, but he’s able to keep it out.
10:04: Goal. Connor Garland opens the scoring and it’s 1-0 Coyotes.
7:51: GOAL! Kevin Labanc off a rebound scores to tie the game at one.
7:07: GOAL! Two goals in a matter of seconds and Joe Pavelski helps give the Sharks a 2-1 lead.
6:47: Referees are waving off a Richard Panik goal after he hit Jones, which prevented him from making the save. However, the refs have gone to review it.
6:47: Call is reversed. Goal. Panik ties it at 2-2.
6:47: Sharks now challenge the goal for goaltender interference.
6:47: Goal is waved off on the challenge and it goes back to 2-1 Sharks.
4:44: Penalty. Tim Heed heads to the penalty box.
2:44: Sharks are able to kill off the Heed penalty.
1:13: Penalty. Another Sharks penalty in the second. Justin Braun goes off for holding.
Third Period
19:12: Sharks kill off the Braun penalty.
18:14: Penalty. Burns heads to the box for high-sticking.
16:53: Penalty. Kane heads off the ice for a too many men penalty and it’s a 5-on-3 penalty.
16:07: Burns with a scoring chance after coming out of the penalty box.
14:53: Sharks are able to kill two penalties over the last four minutes.
12:51: Goal. Josh Archibald ties it up at two.
11:51: Archibald nearly scores again, but his shot goes off the post.
8:38: Jones with a key save on Cousins to keep the score tied at two.
:47: Coyotes with some scoring chances, but the puck stays out.
Overtime
4:31: Logan Couture fans on a shot.
2:59: Thornton with a scoring chance, but the puck bounces off his stic.k
1:46: GOAL! Brent Burns with the game-winning goal!
Final: Sharks 3, Coyotes 2
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