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Dan Boyle scores a goal in his return but Coyotes win in shootout |
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Ryan Leong
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The Sharks got a shot in the arm with the return of veteran defenseman Dan Boyle. Unfortunately, his presence while inspirational to his teammates and fans, Team Teal fell just short losing in a shootout by the score of 3-2.
San Jose had a few quality changes on a double-minor power play but could not score a goal. Credit Phoenix veteran netminder Mike Smith for stonewalling the Sharks on every opportunity in the first period.
The game started off inauspiciously for the Sharks. On a pass to bring the puck out of the San Jose zone, Brad Stuart runs into a teammate on the pass creating a turnover. Andrew Vermette takes advantage of a defenseless Antti Niemi with a wrister in the slot
End to end action as Mikkel Boeddker skates in and from a very tough angle, threads the puck cross crease just past the blocker side of Niemi.
The Sharks continue to assault the opposition with at least 30 shots on goal in each one of their home games. They got 50 shots on net for the third time this season, also accomplished on Oct. 12 vs. Ottawa and in the first game vs. the Coyotes on Oct. 5.
Congratulations to Joe Thornton who got his 800th career assist on the Boyle goal.
Turning point
Mikkel Boeker's goal to tie the game at 2-2 eventually sends the game to a shootout.
The Coyotes also showed they've vastly improved since game two when they lost at San Jose 4-1.
"We talked about that after the game we recognized that two points, we'll put those in the bank but there's a lot of areas we're going to have to be better in if we want to be the team we know we can. Where we were game two and where we are now, I think we're better I think we'll continue to grow as a team," said Phoenix coach Dave Tippett.
As for the reaction from Sharks coach Todd McLellan:
"We had every opportunity to finish it, to end it. We had some good looks. I'm not sure how hungry we were around the blue paint, or how much we were in the goaltender's eyes. He looked comfortable in there, and when a guy like that gets comfortable, he makes a lot of saves."
Contenders
Mike Smith - Made 48 saves on a whopping 50 shots. He made all the tough saves but was beaten twice over the left shoulder so that was his blind spot for the night. Still, he stopped everything else in his path.
Antoine Vermette - scores a pair of goals, one to give the Coyotes the lead in regulation and the shootout winner.
Logan Couture - didn't get a goal despite taking nine shots but scores in the shootout.
Keith Yandle-made a great defensive play preventing Tomas Hertl from scoring on a breakaway and created a scoring chance for the Coyotes moments later.
Mikkel Boedker - showed his skill with this goal, a severe angle. Still, Niemi should have made the save, it was just a perfectly placed shot. He also kept the puck out of the net with 33.1 seconds left after the puck trickled past Smith's pads but not over the goal line. Unfortunately he failed in the shootout.
Dan Boyle - scores in his first game back after that dirty hit from Maxim Lapierre in St. Louis. Here's the highlight of his goal, note the reaction after scoring:
Pretenders
Mike Riberio - gets the puck right on the doorstep and fans on the potential game winner with 2:37 left in overtime. Had he gotten off a clean shot, the game is over and the Coyotes get a road win. He tried to backskate on the shootout and was stoned by Niemi. He can breathe a sigh of relief since Vermette came through for his team.
Sharks power play - goes 1-for-6 on the man advantage failing to score on a double minor. One fan was so displeased he could be heard yelling "You had four minutes!" Sharks weren't much better 5-on-5 despite those 50 shots on goal. Part of the credit has to go to Smith for his fantastic play in the net.
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