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Coyotes earn big win against San Jose |
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The Phoenix Coyotes showed more desperation tonight in the desert as they downed the Sharks 5-3.
Everything the Coyotes did tonight they were just a little bit better than the Sharks. On Lauri Korpikoski’s first goal the defense wasn’t that bad by Braun, he was on him, but not tight enough. Smith was better than Niemi and the Coyotes’ line changes were definitely better than the Sharks.
“We weren’t very good” said Coach McLellan “we weren’t very good once the puck was dropped, we weren’t very good on pursuit, with our coverage. They were well prepared and they played very well when the puck was dropped.”
Many of the Sharks top players went unnoticed. It was an average game and an average effort by San Jose against a team that needed a win more than the Sharks did.
The Coyotes came into tonight’s game in 12th place in the West sitting 5 points out of 8th and still have playoff aspirations. They lost the first game of the season against the Sharks but have won the last two since then. They appear to have confidence against San Jose after winning 5-3 tonight and shutting them out last time at the Shark Tank 3-0.
It is difficult to point to one area of the Sharks game that suffered because tonight they weren’t bad, they just weren’t very good.
Coach Dave Tippett stressed the importance of this game to his team for days now and they came into tonight well rested.
Even though the Sharks weren’t great they didn’t give up on the game and a goal in the final minute was proof of that.
Scoring details
1st Period
No scoring
2nd Period
SJ – 3:44 –EV – 39 L.Couture(22) – assists – 29 R.Clowe(18), 12 P.Marleau(21)
Phx – 4:16 –EV – 37 R.Torres(8) – assists – 32 M.Rozsival(6), 22 D.Langkow(13)
Phx – 9:29 –EV – 28 L.Korpikoski(12) – assists – 19 S.Doan(16), 15 B.Gordon(12)
SJ – 12:26 –PP – 64 J.McGinn(11) – assists – 88 B.Burns(14), 29 R.Clowe(19)
Phx – 12:26 –EV – 11Hanzal(6) – assists – 13 R.Whitney(28), 17 R.Vrbata(18)
3rd Period
Phx – 8:03 –EV – 28 L.Korpikoski(13) - assists – 15 B.Gordon(13), 19 S.Doan(17)
SJ – 19:27 –EV – 12 P.Marleau(20) – assists – 29 R.Clowe(20), 19 J.Thornton(33)
Phx – 19:59 –EV –EN – 17 R.Vrbata(24) – assists – 13 R.Whitney(29), 11 M.Hanzal(16)
The turning point in this game for me was the Coyotes first goal that came only 0:32 after the Sharks scored. The shift after a goal is always huge and tonight the Desert Dogs knew how important that shift was by stealing the momentum back right away before San Jose was able to play with it.
Contenders & Pretenders
Contenders
Lauri Korpikoski – was solid tonight and scored two goals including the game winner.
Ryane Clowe – showed how much he missed playing hockey while sitting out and was great again in his second night back. Clowe was a part of every Sharks goal tonight with three assists.
Coach Tippett – prepared his team for a big game tonight and they responded. It isn’t easy knowing what buttons to push to inspire your crew but tonight the Coyotes wanted that game more than the Sharks did.
Pretenders
Antti Niemi – let in four goals on 25 shots and just didn’t seem into the game. Perhaps he was still a little sensitive in that area.
Joe Thornton – had some great flashes of brilliance but made a bad line change in the second with less a minute remaining in the period which resulted in a Coyotes goal.
The Sharks return home and get a couple of days off before they suit up against the Calgary Flames who always bring the best out of the Sharks. These teams still have a dislike for each other and Wednesday’s game promises to be entertaining.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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