Game Recap
The Arizona Coyotes win streak keeps going with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. It is the fourth win for the Desert Dogs, who are two points behind the Nashville Predators for the first Wild Card spot with a game in hand.
It was a relatively slow first period, where both teams were feeling each other out. They had played each other last week, but every game is different and has its own rhythm.
Neither team took any penalties during the second, and both teams took turns controlling the game. The Sharks seemed to have a push at the end, but the game remained scoreless as we moved onto period two, which would prove pivotal.
Four of the game’s seven goals would be scored in the second period. Michael Kesselring got the Coyotes started with his third of the season from Clayton Keller just under five minutes in, an excellent start for the Desert Dogs.
Keller was able to give Kesselring just enough space to knock it home, a great goal and a great way to start the second period.
But the Sharks were not about to go down so easily, and a former Coyote would light the lamp. Fabian Zetterlund found an open Anthony Duclair a minute and a half later, and Duclair came in with speed to beat Karel Vejmelka, tying the game at 1-1.
The Coyotes last beat the Sharks 1-0, but with Duclair’s goal, that wasn’t going to happen again. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the Coyotes to respond, and they regained the lead two minutes later, with Keller scoring his 12th of the season from Alex Kerfoot and Sean Durzi.
Keller had a breakaway of his own, and for a second, it looked like he had just hit the post. Further review showed the puck hit the post and went under Mackenzie Blackwood, who brought it into the net, giving the Coyotes their second lead of the game.
Thankfully, the Coyotes weren’t about to give up, and they kept up the pressure. They got their third goal of the game just before the 13-minute mark.
Nick Schmaltz threw the puck toward the front of the net, and it bounced off Alex Kerfoot to trickle into the back of the net. Kerfoot was doing his job in front of the net, and if the goal hadn’t counted, he would have drawn a penalty, but there was no kicking motion, and the Coyotes were up 3-1.
The third period would have a bit of drama early on, as Filip Zadina would get the Sharks within one just 26 seconds in. Thankfully, the Coyotes had the extra padding, and when the time came for their second power play, they made the Sharks pay.
Schmaltz scored on the power play, his 10th of the season, from Kerfoot and Keller. Schmaltz did what we have seen players do a lot this season: find the open ice in front of the net and wait for a pass from the goal line, and all of a sudden, the Coyotes had regained their two-goal lead.
It had been seven games since Schmaltz last registered a point. That inconsistency is far from ideal, but he came back with a vengeance tonight with a goal and an assist.
But as good as the game was, there was just one problem. Matias Maccelli hadn’t registered a point yet.
That changed in the latter half of the final frame, with Lawson Crouse getting his 14th of the season from Maccelli and Nick Bjugstad.
There was nothing particularly special about the goal. It was a middle-of-the-ice shot through traffic, and if it hadn’t been the fifth goal he let in, Blackwood probably would have wanted it back.
Yesterday’s game marked the return of Sean Durzi, who notched two assists and registered 22 minutes and 23 seconds of ice time. He took a few big hits, but he showed how vital he is to the team, so hopefully, he can stay healthy.
The Coyotes may not be the most consistent team over the course of an 82-game season, but they are locked in right now. They are beating the teams they should be beating, and they have all of the momentum going into a tough matchup this weekend against the Colorado Avalanche.
Lines
Three Stars
- Alex Kerfoot – Goal and two assists
- Clayton Keller – Goal and two assists
- Nick Schmaltz – Goal and an assist
Next Game
The Coyotes will play the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time for the last game before Christmas.