The Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) in the second period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Dec 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

Thursday, December 21st, 2023

By Troy Ewers

San Jose, CA – The San Jose Sharks host the Arizona Coyotes in the SAP Center following the Sharks loss to the Kings on Tuesday. After a trying first 11 games to start the season in which SJ went 0-10-1 to open the campaign, the Sharks have rebounded with a nearly -.500 record over the team’s last 21 contests, but since the calendar flipped to December, the Sharks are 4-4-1 with three of those five losses coming by one goal. The Sharks lost on home ice on Thursday night to the Coyotes for their fourth straight loss 5-2 at SAP Center.

Smooth first period for the Sharks both defensively and offensively. Similar flow to the last game, San Jose getting great scoring chances as well as stopping the opposition for the duration of the period. SJ outshot Arizona 12-7 was a display that the Sharks had their foot on the necks of the Coyotes, but the goalies were on point keeping it scoreless. 

The second period was a more electric period, but not necessarily for the Sharks. The first goal for Arizona was from Michael Kesselring on a quick wrist shot past Mackenzie Blackwood to make it 1-0.

Immediately following the Coyotes goal, the Sharks responded with a breakaway goal off Anthony Duclair and the crowd was right back in it, 1-1. Two minutes later Arizona responded with a unassisted breakaway goal of their own courtesy of Clayton Keller on a backhand shot, 2-1 Arizona.

The Coyotes knew they couldn’t take their foot off the gas and got another goal when Alex Kerfoot snuck one past Blackwood on a deflected shot, 3-1 Desert Dogs. The ending of the period was rough and chaotic, but no goal for the Sharks and the period ended 3-1.

The feeling of last game was still in the air, but since it’s the holidays the San Jose crowd was clearly still enjoying themselves, but they wouldn’t mind a win before Christmas, especially if at this point a win meant them scoring four goals and this crowd would get free tacos. 

26 seconds into the final period, Filip Zadina poked in the puck and it was a quick goal to make it 3-2 and the crowd had high hopes. Well those hopes were squashed and decisively. A beautiful setup on a power play created a great array of passing that led to a Nick Schmaltz goal, 4-2 Arizona.

There were still high hopes in the SAP Center, but that disappeared when Lawson Course hit a snappy wrist shot that killed the crowd and put a nail in the coffin of this game with a score of 5-2 for the Coyotes. The final seconds ticked away and a chorus of boos hit. 5-2 Coyotes and that’s the holiday send off the fans were left with.

This season for the Sharks hasn’t been easy, but for the Sharks fans it’s been something they’d like to forget or at least drown out with some eggnog. San Jose’s next game will be in Vancouver against the Canucks the day before Christmas Eve.

The Sharks hit the road on Saturday night in Vancouver a 7:00pm face off and head to Los Angeles to face the Kings on Wednesday night. The next home game for the Sharks won’t be until Thu Dec 28th and these fans hopefully can get a late Christmas gift from the boys in teal with a win back at home.