Arizona Coyotes Shut Out By San Jose Sharks 3-0
Fresh off a shutout loss on Saturday night, the Arizona Coyotes traveled to San Jose for a Pacific Division matchup with the Sharks to cap off a back-to-back.
0. 121. 3. 120. Final
The Arizona Coyotes were shut out on Saturday night at Gila River Arena despite a strong effort on all fronts.
They suffered the same fate on Sunday, squandering another strong effort in goal by Mike Smith.
Smith was under siege from San Jose from drop puck and the Yotes generated the majority of their shot attempts in the frame thanks to an abbreviated 5-on-3 and the preceding man advantage.
Despite the fortuitous opportunity, it was the Sharks who scored first shortly after the Coyotes’ power play expired. A wild point shot from Brenden Dillon took a deflection off of Joel Ward and into Mike Smith’s net. 1-0 San Jose.
Tomas Hertl scored another fluke goal in the second period when his move to the net was blocked by a sprawling Connor Murphy. The puck hit Murphy’s stick and redirected five-hole on Smith.
Despite having nearly half the game left to play, the 2-0 San Jose lead was virtually insurmountable for the impotent Arizona Coyotes offense.
Joe Pavelski tacked on an empty netter to add insult to injury.
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Arizona Coyotes Player of the Game
Mike Smith has now started three games since returning from his three month layoff. He’s seen his save percentage shoot from a terrible .901 to a somewhat respectable .912 with three very solid outings.
The Coyotes’ netminder saved 33 of 35 shots on the night and was the unlucky recipient of some reverse karma after having two goals overturned against San Jose in his last outing.
The View From The 200 Level
If Saturday night’s effort was the gold standard for what you’d like to see in an acceptable loss, Sunday’s game was a pretty far cry from that.
The Sharks had the Arizona Coyotes hemmed into their own zone early and often and there were turnovers and giveaways aplenty to allow those stretches of possession to continue for San Jose.
For the second straight night, the Coyotes failed to convert on a 5-on-3 power play. When you don’t convert those, you set yourself up to lose. The momentum gain from the opposition after killing a huge penalty like that is palpable and the Sharks turned that into a goal quickly.
Next: Penalties A Concern For Tippett, Coyotes
The Coyotes get a chance to face Connor McDavid on home ice on Tuesday night.
With the McSavior in the building, it’s past time we see some goal-scoring from the Arizona Coyotes own heralded youth.