San Jose Sharks Battle Phoenix Coyotes in Season Finale: Game Preview
Nov 2, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Phoenix Coyotes center
Antoine Vermette(50) scores the winning goal against San Jose Sharks goalie
Antti Niemi(31) during a shootout at SAP Center at San Jose. Phoenix Coyotes won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Sharks are playing their final regulation game against the Phoenix Coyotes tonight in Arizona. Coming off of an amazing home finale — beating the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 — will hopefully give them the motivation to end on an awesome note.
But coach Todd McLellan doesn’t want the team to be too nonchalant. He stated, “I still have concerns going into tomorrow’s game. It’s at the end of the year when your minds are almost moving on the play against L.A., then you still have to play these game.”
The boys need to keep their heads in the game and end the regular season with a huge two points.
Tale of the Tape
Sharks
- Goals for per game: 2.95 (7th)
- Goals against per game: 2.36 (6th)
- Shots per game: 34.8 (1st)
- Shots against per game: 27.8 (6th)
- Penalty minutes: 735 (5th)
- Power play percentage: 17.0% (20th)
- Penalty kill percentage: 84.9% (6th)
Coyotes:
- Goals for per game: 2.58 (19th)
- Goals against per game: 2.75 (11th)
- Shots per game: 30.5 (13th)
- Shots against per game: 32.2 (24th)
- Penalty minutes: 798 (9th)
- Power play percentage: 20.3% (4th)
- Penalty kill percentage: 79.4% (26th)
Top Performers
Sharks: Joe Pavelski (39 G, 38 A), Joe Thornton (11 G, 64 A), Patrick Marleau (313G, 36 A)
Coyotes: Keith Yandle (8 G, 45 A), Mikkel Boedker (19 G, 31 A), Radim Vrbata (20 G, 30 A)
Injury Report
Sharks: S. Hannan, R. Torres, A. Burrish
Coyotes: M. Hanzel, M. Smith
Probable Lines
SAN JOSE (50-22-9)
Forwards
Thornton – Pavelski – Burns
Marleau – Couture – Hertl
Wingels – Sheppard – Kennedy
Brown – Desjardins – Havlat
Defense
Braun – Demers
Irwin – Boyle
Stuar – Hannan
Goalie
Niemi
Stalock
PHOENIX (36-29-15)
Forwards
Boedker – Vermette – Doan
Erat – Chipchura – Vrbata
McMillan – Ribeiro – Moss
Klinkhammer – Halpern – Korpikoski
Defense
Ekman-Larsson – Michalek
Yandle – Stone
Summers – Morris
Goalie
Greiss
Visentin
Game Info
Opening Face-off: 6:00 PM PST
Location: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, AZ
TV: LOCAL