Jakob Chychrun scores 2 goals in Coyotes loss to Sharks

Arizona fought back from a 4-0 deficit on goals from Michael Bunting, Clayton Keller and two from Jakob Chychrun but could not complete the comeback.

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Apr 26, 2021, 10:33 PM Updated: Apr 27, 2021, 7:35 am

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Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) fights for the puck against the San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, April 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alexander Barabanov scored his first NHL goal to help the San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-4 on Monday in the Sharks’ first home game with fans in attendance in 13 months.

Rookie goalie Josef Korenar made 21 saves and earned his first NHL victory as San Jose snapped an eight-game losing streak, its longest since 2005.

Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Noah Gregor all scored as the Sharks jumped out to a 4-0 lead by early in the second period. But they needed Barabanov’s goal 11:17 of the third to help fend off a Coyotes comeback.

Arizona fought back from a 4-0 deficit on goals from Michael Bunting, Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun to pull within one. After Barabanov’s goal made it 5-3, Chychrun scored his second goal of the night with 4:44 left in the third to make it 5-4.

Chychrun, who now has 16 goals on the season, ranks top among all defenseman in the NHL in goal scoring.

Evander Kane added an empty-netter for San Jose with 8 seconds remaining.

Adin Hill made 15 saves for Arizona after replacing Darcy Kuemper, who was pulled in the second period after San Jose’s fourth goal.

The Sharks rewarded the small crowd that was allowed into SAP Center for the first time this season, as COVID-19 restrictions in California forced San Jose to play in front of empty seats at home until Monday.

UP NEXT

The teams meet again Wednesday night in San Jose, then play twice more in the final week of the regular season.