The Coyotes didn’t make the Sharks’ 5-4 shootout win easy. The team that has been difficult to score on through their first two preseason games gave up three goals in the first six shots to the desert dogs.
The story so far in the preseason, but tonight saw veterans stepping up. Mikkel Boedker showed drive, answering the Coyotes three goals in the first period with two of his own. He under-performed last season, but his preseason has been promising.
The other two Sharks goals came from Barclay Goodrow, assisted by Marcus Sorensen and Ryan Carpenter, and Kevin Labanc, assisted by Chris Tierney and Timo Meier – all of whom have spent significant time with the big club already. Their confidence at NHL level play is making strides.
Troy Grosenick struggled early in the game, but eventually leveled out, stopping 23 of the 27 shots he faced.
Despite the four goals allowed by Grosenick, the Sharks dominated play and out-shot the Coyotes 43-27.
The shootout saw misses from Boedker, Labanc, and Tierney, and goals from Logan Couture and Tim Heed, who sent everyone home when the Coyotes couldn’t match him.
It’s worth noting that Couture took a puck to the face again in the third period, but returned to the ice a few minutes later. Boedker also got caught up with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, causing Larsson to be helped off the ice by teammate Alex Goligoski. Brandon Bollig dropped the gloves with Michael Latta in the second, and it looks like Bollig got the better of Latta.
#SJSharks Bollig vs. Latta pic.twitter.com/FCaJG6Jr0e
— Paul Gackle (@GackleReport) September 24, 2017
The Sharks will suit up in Anaheim on Thursday, September 29th.
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