National Hockey League
San Jose 8, Arizona 7
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Brandon Schrader, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Steve Barton, Kyle Flemington
Attendance: 11450

Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl each scored in regulation and again in the shootout as the San Jose Sharks overcame blowing a late two-goal lead to win 8-7 over the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.

Down 7-5 with just over three minutes to play in regulation, Arizona's Shayne Gostisbehere's score made it a one-goal game, and Andrew Ladd tied it on the power play with 1:29 left. However, the Coyotes couldn't complete the comeback and lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

With the game tied 2-2 after one period, Radim Simek and Jeffrey Viel scored seven seconds apart to give the Sharks, who won for the third time in eight contests, a two-goal edge.

However, the Coyotes rallied despite being down by two goals four times. Defenseman Janis Moser posted his first two NHL goals, and Lawson Crouse recorded two goals and two assists for Arizona.

Due to the COVID-19 layoff around the league, both teams went more than 10 days between games. The sloppiness showed, but San Jose scored 2:46 into the contest when Couture's shot deflected off Alexander Barabanov and past the Coyotes' Scott Wedgewood (20 saves).

San Jose, though, committed a turnover in its own end, and the puck eventually got to Phil Kessel (four assists), who set up Crouse.

The Sharks went back ahead with 8:38 left in the first, when Nick Bonino forced an Arizona turnover, then slammed home a rebound of Matt Nieto's shot.

The turnover bug again bit the Sharks when Brent Burns coughed up the puck behind his own net. It quickly found Moser, who tied it with 2:20 left in the opening frame.

After Simek and Viel scored, Clayton Keller brought the Coyotes within a goal when he blew a shot by San Jose's James Reimer (39 saves) with 12:12 remaining in the second. It was Keller's 10th goal of the season.

Timo Meier gave the Sharks their two-goal advantage back, converting amid a net-front scrum with 5:47 to play in the second.

The Coyotes then answered through the power play on Moser's blast with 23 seconds remaining in the period.

Hertl's team-leading 15th goal 1:44 into the third gave the Sharks a 6-4 lead before Crouse collected his second of the night with 12:25 left in regulation.

Couture scored his 10th goal with seven minutes to play, giving San Jose a 7-5 edge.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   San Jose
Lawson Crouse 4 Points Alexander Barabanov 2
Lawson Crouse 2 Goals Alexander Barabanov 1
Phil Kessel 4 Assists Alexander Barabanov 1
J.J. Moser 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Scott Wedgewood .741 Save Percentage James Reimer .848
Scott Wedgewood 20 Saves James Reimer 39
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 46 7 2-3 3-3 13 33
San Jose 27 8 0-3 1-3 13 25
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game at home against Philadelphia. The Sharks have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .533 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .143 after a win and .217 after a loss.