Coyotes close season with loss to Sharks
Apr 9, 2016, 10:29 PM
San Jose Sharks' Nick Spaling (16) reaches for the puck next to Arizona Coyotes' Anthony Duclair (10) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 9, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Joe Pavelski scored on a power play 7:29 into the third period and Martin Jones made 20 saves to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday night.
Joe Thornton, named the Sharks Player of the Year earlier in the day, got his 964th assist to tie for 13th on the career list. He had an assist in all five games against the Coyotes this season.
The Sharks enter the playoffs with an 18-20-3 home record. They are the only playoff team with a losing record at home.
San Jose opens the playoffs against either the Los Angeles Kings or Anaheim Ducks. Its opponent will be determined when the Ducks play Washington on Sunday.
Mike Smith saved 31 of 32 shots for the Coyotes, who have not scored in San Jose for 192:02 minutes, a span of over seven periods.
The Coyotes made remarkable progress this season but are 0-7-3 in their last 10 visits to the Shark Tank.
San Jose failed to convert its first four power plays before Brent Burns and Thornton crisscrossed the net with a pair of quick passes to open things up for Pavelski, who scored his team-leading 38th goal.
The Sharks had to kill off two penalties in the final 6 minutes to hang on.
NOTES: Joonas Donskoi was named the Sharks Rookie of the Year, Brent Burns the Fan Favorite and Pavelski the Inspired Performance. … The Sharks signed draft picks Michael Brodzinski (5th) and Danny O’Regan (5th). … Mirco Mueller was recalled from the AHL. … Sharks C Tommy Wingels played in his 300th game and C Tomas Hertl played in his 200th game. … Coyotes F Shane Doan entered with 68 points in 105 games against the Sharks. … The Sharks announced their 13th sellout of the year.
