San Jose Sharks center Nick Bonino (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Dec 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

San Jose used early goals from Tomas Hertl, Nick Bonino and Nico Sturm in addition to a stellar effort in the nets from James Reimer, as the Sharks held off Arizona 3-2 Tuesday in a Western Conference matchup at SAP Center.

The Sharks, mired in sixth place in the NHL Pacific, improved to 10-16-5, 25 points. Arizona, playing its 15th road game in their last 17 contests to accommodate the construction schedule of Arizona State’s Mullet Arena in Tempe, is 9-14-4, 22 points in the Central Division.

Hertl’s 10th goal of the season, assisted by Radim Simek and Scott Harrington, put the Sharks on the board at 3:50 of the first period. Just over one minute later, Bonino scored his fourth goal, from Erik Karlsson and Jonah Gadjovich, putting the Sharks up 2-0.

With San Jose’s Oskar Lindblom (hooking) and Bonino (tripping) both serving minor penalties, the Coyotes took advantage of the 5-on-3 power play with a goal by Lawson Crouse – his team-leading 13th – at 18:05, cutting the Sharks lead to 2-1 at the first intermission.

Sturm’s eighth goal of the season, from Bonino and Harrington, extended the Sharks’ lead to 3-1 at 8:09 of the second period. Arizona closed the gap to 3-2 at 2:56 of the third period on Nick Bjugstad’s sixth goal.

The Coyotes went to a sixth attacker with just over two minutes to play and hit the pipe twice, but was unable to take advantage of San Jose being called for icing three times after the Sharks missed hitting the empty Coyotes net.

Reimer stopped 20 of 22 Arizona shots, while Coyotes netminder Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.

The Sharks will try to extend their two-game winning streak on Saturday night in Los Angeles against the Kings.