Winning streak ends at seven with 6-3 setback
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Before Wednesday, the Sharks had been a perfect 7-0 this month. But an imperfect outing against the Coyotes put an end to that run.
Christian Fischer had a goal and an assist, Richard Panik scored Arizona’s 12th shorthanded goal of the season and Arizona snapped San Jose’s winning streak with a 6-3 victory.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Lawson Crouse, Alex Galchenyuk and Josh Archibald also scored for the Coyotes, the last two coming after the Sharks pulled goalie Aaron Dell in the final two minutes.
Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves for Arizona, extending his winning streak to four games.
Kevin Labanc had a goal and two assists, Evander Kane got his 17th goal and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks, who were playing the second of back-to-back games after beating Pittsburgh at home Tuesday.
Erik Karlsson’s assist gave him at least one in 15 straight games, making him the fifth defenseman in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
The Sharks had not lost since falling 8-5 to Calgary on New Year’s Eve and had given up only 10 goals in their last six games.
The Coyotes killed off three of four penalties and have given up an NHL-low 16 power-play goals in 137 chances, the best percentage in the league.
Couture’s goal with five minutes remaining cut it to 4-3 but Galchenyuk scored seconds after the Sharks pulled Dell. Archibald scored moments later as the Coyotes won their fourth in five games.
Dell made 36 saves while starting in place of Martin Jones, who tied a career best with his eighth consecutive victory in the 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Crouse scored 2:31 into the game when his wrist shot from the right circle deflected off Dell’s glove. Panik scored his first short-handed goal on a breakaway less than two minutes later.
Labanc made it 2-1 in a busy first period when he picked up a rebound of Brenden Dillon’s shot from the left point and beat Kuemper high on the glove side at 6:53.
Fischer scored five minutes into the second when he brought the puck from around the net and threw it out in front from a bad angle. It ricocheted off Karlsson’s skate and under Dell’s right arm to make it 3-1.