Phil Kessel scored the go-ahead goal for his 900th career point and Victor Soderstrom scored his first NHL goal as the Arizona Coyotes beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Friday night.
Conor Garland added a goal and two assists for Arizona, which also benefited from an overturned San Jose goal that would have tied it in the third.
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Phil Kessel scored the go-ahead goal for his 900th career point and Victor Soderstrom scored his first NHL goal as the Arizona Coyotes beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Friday night.
Erik Karlsson appeared to net a tying goal with 12:14 left, but Arizona issued a coach’s challenge and the goal was denied when San Jose was found to be offside.
Karlsson’s first-period goal gave the Sharks the lead, and they made it 2-0 on Timo Meier’s 11th goal of the season early in the second. But Arizona answered right back with the first career NHL goal for Soderstrom, who patiently worked the puck down the right side and rattled a shot into the upper left corner of the net to make it 2-1.
SAP Center went quiet in the first period after Sharks rookie forward John Leonard crashed head-first into the boards near Arizona’s bench and lay motionless on the ice for a couple minutes.
Sharks captain Logan Couture was scratched Friday with a lower-body injury that could sideline him for the team’s final two games.
The teams face each other in a Saturday rematch in San Jose.
San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) lies on the ice after colliding with the boards during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes in an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
Kessel scored a breakaway goal to snap a 2-2 at 4:53 of the third, just minutes after being denied by Sharks goalie Josef Korenar on a similar play.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) as Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
Erik Karlsson appeared to net a tying goal with 12:14 left, but Arizona issued a coach’s challenge and the goal was denied when San Jose was found to be offside.
Michael Bunting made it 4-2 with a goal that was set up nicely by Garland and Jan Jenik added an empty-netter just before the final horn.
Darcy Kuemper had 26 saves for Arizona.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Josef Korenar looks back as he cannot stop a goal by Arizona Coyotes defenseman Victor Soderstrom during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
Karlsson’s first-period goal gave the Sharks the lead, and they made it 2-0 on Timo Meier’s 11th goal of the season early in the second. But Arizona answered right back with the first career NHL goal for Soderstrom, who patiently worked the puck down the right side and rattled a shot into the upper left corner of the net to make it 2-1.
The Sharks were close to killing off a 5-on-3 power play, but Garland scored on a one-timer for his first goal since March 31.
SCARY MOMENT
Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (83) is congratulated by Jakob Chychrun (6) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
SAP Center went quiet in the first period after Sharks rookie forward John Leonard crashed head-first into the boards near Arizona’s bench and lay motionless on the ice for a couple minutes.
Eventually Leonard got to his feet with assistance from the training staff and was helped off the ice.
COUTURE SIDELINED
Arizona Coyotes right wing Phil Kessel (81) works for the puck against San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
Sharks captain Logan Couture was scratched Friday with a lower-body injury that could sideline him for the team’s final two games.
San Jose coach Bob Boughner said during his morning media session that Couture has been bothered by the injury for a while. With the Sharks out of playoff contention, the team will play it safe. San Jose hosts Arizona again Saturday and finishes the season at home Wednesday against Vegas.
UP NEXT
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a goal attempt by San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
The teams face each other in a Saturday rematch in San Jose.
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San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) collides against the boards as Arizona Coyotes right wing Christian Fischer (36) watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)
San Jose Sharks left wing John Leonard (43) lies on the ice after colliding with the boards during the first period against the Arizona Coyotes in an NHL hockey game Friday, May 7, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP PhotoTony Avelar)