San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood can’t stop an Arizona Coyote goal in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Apr 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 7th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

SAN JOSE–In Day 2 of back to back games, the San Jose Sharks (18-51-8) lost to the Arizona Coyotes (33-39-5) 5-2 at SAP Arena on Sunday afternoon . The Sharks were coming off a huge day, in their last game Saturday against the Blues that not only saw an overtime win 3-2, but historic firsts for the locker room. 

William Eklund (3g, 0a) netted his first career hat trick, his first NHL multi-goal game and sixth-career multi-point effort, to lead the Sharks to a season sweep of the St. Louis Blues. He extended his home scoring streak to 10 games (6g, 7a), the 10th time in team history that a Shark has found the score sheet in 10 consecutive games on home ice. Mikael Granlund (0g, 1a) pushed his point streak to seven games (2g, 6a), a season-long. Devin Cooley earned his first career win, making 34 stops on 36 shots faced, and Collin Graf made his NHL debut in the game. 

Game recap: First period was interesting to say the least for Henry Thrun. Thrun started the game with a delay of game which led to a power play goal for Arizona. Lawson Crouse hit a one timer in the slot for an opening goal, 1-0 Arizona.

A interference penalty for Arizona led to a power play goal from Henry Thrun. A slap shot from the blue line ties up the game and Granlund, who got an assist, extends his point streak to eight games making it 1-1.

Lawson Crouse ended up in the penalty box after elbowing Thrun and even though nothing was capitalized on for the Coyotes, it was a wild period for Thrun. Liam O’Brien scored a go ahead goal for Arizona that seemed to be knocked in by a Shark, but it didn’t matter, 2-1 Coyotes. 

Second period Luke Kunin evened it out with a wrist shot, but the highlight was the scuffs that the Sharks were engaging in. By the second intermission it was 2-2 and San Jose had a lot of energy approaching the final period. 

Third period the wheels fell off for San Jose as the Coyotes scored three straight goals to end the game. Dylan Guenther scored the first goal with a quick wrist shot past Mackenzie Blackwood, 3-2 Coyotes. Crouse got his second point of the day with an assist on that goal. Clayton Keller made it 4-2 with a big slap shot, assisted by Nick Schmaltz through the legs. Final goal for Arizona came from an empty netter by Schmaltz that ended the game at 5-2. Coyotes win.  

Next game for the Sharks will be on Tuesday April 9th against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center in San Jose.