Jan 24, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) stops the puck with goalie Jason LaBarbera (1) against San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) and center Joe Thornton (19) during the first period at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Join us here all game long for updates for the San Jose Sharks home opener at the Shark Tank against the Phoenix Coyotes at 7:30pm. The Phoenix Coyotes got their first win of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, and the Sharks are coming off a 2-game road trip in which they beat both the Flames and Oilers. Check out the full game preview here!
More to come at the puck drop. Go Sharks!
With their goalkeeper pulled the Coyotes commit a penalty with under a minute left.
Patrick Marleau one more time!! He scores with under 2 minutes. His 3rd straight 2-goal game, now officially the NHL’s leading scorer.
2 minutes left in the third period, 3-3 score.
Congrats to defenseman Matt Irwin for his first career NHL point on the Marleau assist.
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 25, 2013
After that goal Coyotes call a timeout to slow down the Sharks burst of energy here in the 3rd.
And we’re tied at 3 apiece! Marty Havlat with his second goal of the season, picking up the trash in front of the net.
Correction by Scott Reiss, Marian Hossa hit 5 goals earlier today in OT. Marleau 2nd.
Marleau 1st player to 5 goals this season, Thornton leads#NHL with 7 assists #sjsharks
— Scott Reiss (@ScottReissCSN) January 25, 2013
Gooallll!! Patrick Marleau with his 5th goal of the season and the Sharks cut the deficit to 3-2. Assists to Jumbo Joe and rookie Matt Irwin.
Bad angle shot beats Niemi on the short side after Korpikoski just throws the puck at the net. Sharks down 3-1, still plenty of time left in the 3rd period.
Doan was hauled down by by Murray in front of the net, thus the lack of a penalty.
After a scrum in front of the Coyotes net, Phoenix counters on the offensive side with a goal by Vermette after Niemi was taken out by Shane Doan. Fans not happy.
And so much for that.Back to 4-on-4.
— Scott Reiss (@ScottReissCSN) January 25, 2013
Phoenix now drawing a penalty with the man down negating the rest of the Sharks power play. Some more 4 on 4 action.
Long power play now for the Sharks. Time to take the lead!
The Sharks draw an interference penalty against Steve Sullivan on a short-handed rush. 4 on 4 action for about 1 minute. 2 additional minutes for unsportsmanlike. 4 total.
3rd period under way! Coyotes starting on the power play.
The Sharks are now being outshot 22-17 after only 2 total shots in that second period. Also San Jose the more physical team right now, leading 20-12 in hits.
A penalty at the end of that second period against Martin Havlat. Coyotes will start the third period with 1:59 in power play time. score 1-1.
San Jose being held to 2 shots on goal this period with 3 minutes left.
Joe Thornton draws a slashing penalty sending San Jose back onto the power play with about 8 minutes left in the second period.
The penalty kill did a good job of getting in the passing and shooting lanes but was unable to get the puck out of the zone which led to the goal.
Steve Sullivan gets a goal on the 5 on 3 after the Sharks penalty killing unit was out there for over a minute and a half.
Another high sticking penalty against the Sharks, 5 on 3 coming now for the Coyotes.
T.J. Galiardi gets 4 minutes for high stickting, a BIG test for the penalty kill.
Second period is underway, lots of neutral zone action so far.
The San Jose Sharks dominated that first period in the face-off dot leading 14-8. They also led in shots 15-9.
End of the first. 1-0 Sharks lead.
Goal! The power play stays hot as Logan Couture gets the tip-in on a shot by Pavelski from the point.
San Jose back onto the power play with under a minute left in the period
An illegal hand pass by the Coyotes negates a Phoenix goal. PK dodges a bullet.
Bad penalty by Sheppard in the offensive zone leads to the Coyotes first power play of the night. Time for the penalty kill unit to go to work.
5 minutes left in the 1st period. Score still 0-0.
Play is evening out now with the Coyotes and Sharks trading zone offensive zone time after the great start by San Jose.
Sharks were buzzing throught the power play but get nothing out of it. San Jose leads in shots already 11-1.
Delay of game penalty against the Coyotes, huge 5 on 3 chance early.
Marty Havlat drawing the games’ first penalty. Power play for Sharks…. Chomp Chomp!
Pavelski rings one off the post! Top 2 lines looking good early.
Tommy Wingels takes a vicious hit in the back against the boards, no call…
#SJSharks starters on ice: 21-26-57, 61-3, 31. Scratches: Gomez, Petrecki, McLaren
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 25, 2013
It looks like Scott Gomez is NOT going to be playing tonight so Handzus will remain on the third line.
And Joe Thornton seals the deal with the empty netter to take the 5-3 lead. Dominating performance in the third period for the Sharks.