Shark infested waters consume Coyotes in Shootout 3-2

Just no room to give away games and points. From the opening puck drop it was all San Jose who had so many chances the game could of been 5-0 in the first period. Jason LaBarbera stopped 30 plus and the defense blocked over a dozen shots to stay in the game.

Mar 30, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) checks Phoenix Coyotes center Martin Hanzal (11) during the first period at the HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The fact is Phoenix scored the opening goal even after the early flurries from the Sharks. Boyd Gordon had a sick backhanded wrister to beat Niemi up top for the early lead. 1-0 Phx

In the second period it was again San Jose who seemed to have control but Phoenix started to control the tempo. The same suffocating style they play when leading. Rob Klinkhammer took a 4 minute high sticking penalty drawing blood on Scott Gomez and although the Coyotes killed off more than half of the power play, Joe Pavelski put one in with just over a minute left to kill mid way through the middle stanza. 1-1 tied after 2 periods.

Radim Vrbata took a sweet pass from Doan in the early 3rd and after one shot he put in his own rebound to give Phoenix the lead again 2-1. It seemed maybe just possibly we could get outplayed but still hold on for the crucial 2 points with the win but unfortunately that was not to be as Vlasic scored on a wrap shot to tie it and force overtime. Barbs appeared to be upset as he thought he was interfered with but the refs let it go to night and frankly everyone there and on TV seemed to like it. Had a playoff feel to it until the final horn.

In the shootout not Coyote could get a puck past Niemi but the Sharks found the 5-hole somehow to beat Jason LaBarbera and the Coyotes to turn things bleak for playoff hopes.

Home to face the hated Kings on Tuesday night at Jobing.com arena in Glendale.