Coyotes slow start leads to 2nd straight loss to the Sharks

Apr 28, 2021, 10:30 PM | Updated: 10:34 pm

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) is tripped by a San Jose Sharks player during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Evander Kane reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth straight season, Josef Korenar made 28 saves to win his second straight start and the San Jose Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 Wednesday night.

Kane’s goal started a three-goal barrage for San Jose in the first period with Rudolfs Balcers and Kevin Labanc following up to help San Jose sweep the two-game series against Arizona.

With the back-to-back losses the Coyotes fell three points behind St. Louis for the final playoff spot in the West Division with the Blues holding three games in hand. Arizona has lost nine of 11 games overall.

Phil Kessel and Johan Larsson scored but the Coyotes couldn’t get anything else past the 23-year-old rookie Korenar. He got his first two career wins this week against Arizona.

Kane played a big role in both wins with a goal and three assists on Monday night and then another goal in this game to give him 20 on the season. Kane became the fourth player to reach at least 20 goals in each of the past six seasons, joining Alex Ovechkin, Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov.

Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for Arizona.

Tomas Hertl sealed the game with an empty-net goal for San Jose.

The Sharks entered the series on an eight-game losing streak that all but knocked them out of playoff contention.

SLOW START

The Sharks jumped on top of Arizona early for a second straight game. After scoring 17 seconds into the game on Monday, the Sharks took 1:12 to get on the board in this game when Kane finished off a nifty passing sequence started by Tomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov.

San Jose added to that lead when Balcers took a turnover at the blue line and skated in to beat Kuemper with a backhand to make it 2-0.

Labanc added the third goal when he knocked in a loose puck after a scramble in front of the net.

All three of those goals were scored in the first period

SHARK KILLER

Kessel got the Coyotes on the board late in the first period when Nick Schmaltz’s shot deflected off him and in for his 18th goal. Arizona had an extra skater on the ice for 59 seconds because of a delayed penalty before the goal. It was Kessel’s eighth goal of the season against San Jose, tying a record for the most vs. the Sharks held by Teemu Selanne (1995-96) and Luc Robitaille (1992-93).

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Host Vegas on Friday night.

Arizona Coyotes left wing Michael Bunting (58) and San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) reach for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) moves the puck up the ice past Arizona Coyotes left wing Michael Bunting (58) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. San Jose won 4-2. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Jose Sharks left wing Rudolfs Balcers (92) chases the puck next to Arizona Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Jose Sharks right wing Joachim Blichfeld (86) is checked against the boards by Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jason Demers (55) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. San Jose won 4-2. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) battles for the puck along the boards against San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller (9) is tripped by a San Jose Sharks player during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) moves the puck past San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Jose Sharks right wing Kevin Labanc (62) scores a goal past Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

San Jose Sharks right wing Joachim Blichfeld (86) moves the puck up the ice past Arizona Coyotes left wing Dryden Hunt (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) is checked into the boards by San Jose Sharks' Brinson Pasichnuk, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Arizona Coyotes right wing Phil Kessel, center, celebrates after scoring a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Josef Korenar (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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