The San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes are familiar with one-goal games this season. But in a game that featured broken sticks, helmets flying everywhere and a dozen missed calls from both sides, it turned out to be one of the strangest games of the season.
This is the weirdest game I've seen in a long time #sjsharks
— chell (@cosmogurl1272) February 5, 2017
First Period
The Sharks had a great chance to strike first when Mikkel Boedker had a chance at the side of the Arizona net, but Mike Smith, who seems to play his best against San Jose, swiped at the puck to keep it out of the net.
The two teams played a physical period. Lawson Crouse laid a big hit on Tomas Hertl in the Sharks zone. Brenden Dillon quickly came to his winger’s aid and went for a spirited scrap with Crouse.
👊🏻 Crouse v Dillon 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/YfegzPA19h
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 5, 2017
The Sharks had a chance later in the period as Shane Doan went to the penalty box for hooking David Schlemko. Patrick Marleau had two good looks on Smith, but neither found the twine. Late in the penalty, there would be a gathering behind the Arizona net as Oliver Ekman-Larsson clipped Smith, and a fracas broke out.
The Coyotes took two roughing penalties as a result of the flare-up and sent the Sharks on a full two-minute five-on-three power play. The opening stanza expired as the Coyotes’ penalty kill performed well down a pair of skaters.
#SJSharks fiddle away the first 100 seconds of the 2-man advantage. Still 0-0 at the end of 1.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) February 5, 2017
Second Period
The chippy play continued in the middle frame. Kevin Labanc took an extra roughing minor after an altercation with Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes’ power play would not garner much pressure, as both teams struggled with the extra skater.
Hertl had a near breakaway on Smith and took a stick to the face from Ekman-Larsson, but Smith made the save. Moments later, Timo Meier had a glorious chance to open the scoring but again Smith the Shark Killer was equal to the task.
The Coyotes headed back to the power play when the Sharks were whistled for too many men. Logan Couture and Max Domi looked ready to drop the gloves in the neutral zone, but play continued and Shane Doan wristed a shot through Martin Jones to give the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.
Brenden Dillon hammered home a rebound with 2:45 left in the period to even the score. It was Dillon’s first of the campaign as he was deep in Arizona ice and took a few whacks at a loose puck in front of Smith.
Chippy status update: yep, still chippy.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) February 5, 2017
Third Period
The Sharks took a 2-1 lead on a tic-tac-toe passing play from Boedker to Marleau to Couture, who wristed the puck home stick-side on Smith. Ryan White answered right back 26 seconds later as his shot deflected off Melker Karlsson and Dillon and past Jones.
After the two quick goals, the physical play and after-whistle shenanigans died down for much of the final period as the two Pacific Division rivals fought hard for the regulation win. Extra hockey would be needed for the extra point.
60 minutes weren't enough. #ARIvsSJS pic.twitter.com/W36XI5nEZg
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 5, 2017
Overtime
The three-on-three period of bonus hockey is familiar for the two teams, as two of the three previous meetings this season needed the extra session. The Sharks had a chance to atone for a powerless power play when Doan took a tripping penalty at 2:09 of overtime. Despite the extra ice of a four-on-three, the Sharks’ power play failed for the fifth time in the game. Martin Jones bailed out the Sharks on a spectacular sliding windmill save on Tobias Reider.
https://twitter.com/zakkthebear/status/828127482368790528
Despite the late heroics, Brandon Perlini and Radim Vrbata both scored in the ensuing shootout, and Smith stopped Joe Pavelski to give the Coyotes the extra point.
Scoring Summary
First Period
(No Scoring)
Second Period
ARI – Shane Doan (5) (PPG) assisted by Jamie McGinn and Alex Goligoski
SJS – Brenden Dillon (1) assisted by Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture
Third Period
Logan Couture (18) assisted by Patrick Marleau and Mikkel Boedker
Ryan White (5) assisted by Alex Goligoski and Jordan Martinook
Overtime
(No Scoring)
THW Three Stars
First Star: Mike Smith (38 saves)
Second Star: Brenden Dillon (Goal)
Third Star: Alex Goligoski (Two assists)
NEXT UP
San Jose Sharks vs. Buffalo Sabres
KeyBank Center – 4:00 PM PST on Feb. 7, 2017
Broadcast Channels: MSG-B, CSN-CA
Season Series:
First Game of the Season Series
NEXT UP
Arizona Coyotes vs. Montreal Canadiens
Gila River Arena – 9:00 PM EST on Feb. 9, 2017
Broadcast Channels: FS-A, RDS, SNE
Season Series:
Oct. 20: Canadiens 5 – Coyotes 2
