Coyotes knock off playoff-hopeful Sharks
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Glendale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Oliver Ekman-Larsson tallied twice and Sam Gagner picked up a late insurance goal as Arizona claimed a 5-3 decision over San Jose on Saturday.
Shane Doan added a goal and two assists for the Coyotes, who snapped a three- game skid overall and won on home ice for the first time since March 5 vs. Vancouver.
"I just try to play my best every night and get better," said Ekman-Larsson.
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Mark Arcobello also tallied for the hosts while Mike Smith won with a 42-save effort.
Joe Thornton, Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney scored for the Sharks, who had taken the opener of this home-and-home set by a 3-1 count on Friday and lost for the second time in their last six.
Antti Niemi allowed four goals on 32 shots in defeat. San Jose is still on the outside of the Western Conference playoff chase.
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"It's too much to ask to score five on any given night to win," said Sharks coach Todd McLellan. "Penalty kill let us down."
Arcobello's 17th of the season, a shot from the right wing off a Doan dish, provided a 4-2 cushion for the Coyotes 5 1/2 minutes into the third, but San Jose wasn't put away quite yet.
Tierney responded for the Sharks at 6:48 on a power play, with a blistering drive from below the right circle.
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The Sharks had a prime chance to even the score when Arizona's David Moss was booked for shooting the puck out of play with 2:49 left in regulation, but failed on the advantage.
Niemi was on the bench for an extra skater when Gagner hit the empty net in the final 10.7 seconds.
Ekman-Larsson opened the scoring on a power play at 11:53 on a screened shot from the left point, then Hertl's man-advantage marker at 16:36 tied the score.
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Doan clicked on another Coyotes advantage for a 2-1 game at 18:57, when his tip of Michael Stone's shot was inadvertently kicked in by Niemi.
Ekman-Larsson struck once more, with 2:14 remaining in the second and the hosts led by two goals again, but Thornton answered for the visitors only 19 seconds later.
Game Notes
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Arizona won at home in regulation for the first time since a 4-1 decision over the Jets on Jan. 8, going 1-15-2 in Glendale since that point ... Doan sits three points shy of 900 for his career ... The Coyotes head to Calgary on Tuesday, while the Sharks welcome the Stars on Monday.