It was a rough start to the game for the Coyotes as San Jose’s Tomas Hertl scored twice, once on the powerplay for a 2-0 Sharks lead after one. Evander Kane collected an assist on both goals picking up two points for himself. San Jose would go into the break up 13-8 on shots, but Arizona fought back early in the second. Clayton Keller had great chances to put it in the back of the net, but it’d be Conor Garland putting them on the board. Just about fifteen minutes into the second period Garland scored on the powerplay to cut the deficit to one. But the Sharks stepped up the pressure late and made Darcy Kuemper stand on his head making clutch saves.
At the 11:24 mark of the third Evander Kane netted it to pick up his third point on the night and make it 3-1 Sharks. Hertl collected one of the assists on Kane’s goal giving him his third point on the night as well. John Leonard also picked up an assist on the goal giving him his second point of the night after he collected an assist on Hertl’s second goal of the game in the first period.
Late in the third period at the 16:30 mark of the third Arizona’s Clayton Keller scored to pull Arizona within one at 3-2. With four seconds left and the extra attacker on the ice for the Coyotes, Phil Kessel put in the back of the net to make it 3-3 and force overtime. Clayton Keller collected an assist on Kessel’s goal giving him his second point of the night. The overtime would see no goals from either team which meant we’d head to an opening night shootout.
Shootout and More
Nick Schmaltz scored for Arizona with the first shot in the shootout. But San Jose’s Ryan Donato netted it for the Sharks. Conor Garland missed in his attempt for Arizona while Logan Couture scored for the Sharks. With the game on the line, it was up to Arizona’s Clayton Keller who scored in the third. But San Jose’s Martin Jones shut him down for a Sharks win.
However, the Coyotes finished the game winning the shot category 37-35 and the faceoff category. Arizona won 55% of faceoffs while San Jose won just 45% of them. Arizona also finished ahead in the hit category 21-18. San Jose and Arizona finished tied on the powerplay each going one for four and collecting eight penalty minutes.
