Sharks unable to slow down Coyotes, now on longest losing streak since start of season
December 22, 2023
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks thought they had momentum on their side after Anthony Duclair scored on a second-period breakaway to knot up Thursday night’s game with the Arizona Coyotes.
Clayton Keller snatched that momentum right back for the Coyotes, scoring on a breakaway slightly more than two minutes after Duclair’s goal at the 6:20 mark.
Alex Kerfoot’s goal later in the second period turned out to be the winner as Arizona handed the Sharks a 5-2 loss before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.
Filip Zadina snapped a 14-game goal drought just 26 seconds into the third period, as his fourth of the season cut Arizona’s lead to 3-2. But with Nikita Okhotiuk serving an interference penalty, Nick Schmaltz, stationed in the slot, took a pass from Kerfoot and beat Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for his 10th of the season.
Blackwood finished with 25 saves as the Sharks lost their fourth straight game, their longest skid since they began the season with 11 consecutive losses.
Blackwood, before Thursday, had a .868 save percentage in four games this month, compared to the .907 and .900 save percentages he had in October and November, respectively.
Keller and Kerfoot both had a goal and two assists for Arizona, which has now won four in a row.
The Sharks travel to face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday before the NHL begins a league-wide three-day Christmas break. After the break, San Jose plays Los Angeles and Edmonton on Dec. 27 and 28, respectively, and Colorado on Dec. 31.
After San Jose lost 1-0 to the Coyotes on Dec. 15 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Sharks coach David Quinn said before Thursday’s game that he wanted to see his team play with just “a little more pace.”
“I thought it was a little bit of a sluggish game for us from start to finish,” he added. “There was an uptick in our play in the third period, but it was just an OK game in a lot of areas, and OK isn’t going to cut it in this league. We’ve got to work from the get-go.”
San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) can’t stop a goal by Arizona Coyotes’ Michael Kesselring (5) in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Filip Zadina (18) controls the puck against Arizona Coyotes’ Nick Schmaltz (8) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Tomas Hertl (48) controls the puck against Arizona Coyotes’ Logan Cooley (92) in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) can’t stop a shot against Arizona Coyotes’ Clayton Keller (9) in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) scores a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Justin Bailey (90) fights for the puck against Arizona Coyotes’ J.J. Moser (90) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) blocks a shot in front of Arizona Coyotes’ Jason Zucker (16) in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie wanders the arena during the Sharks game against the Arizona Coyotes in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) tries to get a shot off against Arizona Coyotes’ Troy Stecher (51) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Filip Zadina (18) fights for the puck against Arizona Coyotes’ Nick Schmaltz (8) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair (10) looks for the puck against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ Kevin Labanc (62) controls the puck against Arizona Coyotes’ Michael Carcone (53) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund (72) waits to go to the locker room following their 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
