Coyotes host Sharks in pivotal Pacific Division battle
While improved offensive play has keyed the San Jose Sharks' rise in the standings, the Arizona Coyotes' scoring drought has become a concern.
The Coyotes have totaled three goals over an 0-2-1 stretch after averaging 3.6 over their prior seven.
They'll try to get the offense back in gear when they host the Sharks at Gila River Arena. The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona, staring at 6:30 p.m. Pre-game activities will include a ceremony honoring Shane Doan for becoming the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer.
The Sharks and Coyotes have yet to play this season, but they'll meet five times over the season's final three months. Each game will take on extra importance, as the two teams are tied with Vancouver for second place in the Pacific Division.
"This will be a game that both teams will look at the standings and say this is a big game," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "The one thing you've got to do, as much as you wqnt to look around at what else is happening, you better take care of yourself, otherwise the otehr stuff won't matter."
Antoine Vermette's goal with 11:56 remaining ended a scoreless drought of more than six periods for Arizona in Monday's 2-1 home loss to Buffalo.
"We're a little bit off on our shooting, and a lot of our shots are getting blocked," Tippett said. "These are tight games and the second half gets tighter -- people are scrambling for points, and we're no different."
Arizona (22-18-5) has come up empty on its 10 power-play opportunities over the past two games after going 14 for 39 in its previous 10. The club also has allowed opponents to go 6 for 11 in those situations in its past four.
"We've done some good things as a group, grown as a group, but now you get into games like this, you're going to look to take your game to the next level," Tippett said. "It's a great challenge for us."
San Jose (23-18-3) is 5-0-1 stretch over its past six games, scoring 24 times. The Sharks haven't earned a point in seven straight games since an eight-game run in March 2014.
The Sharks were on the verge of extending their five-game winning streak until they pulled down Ottawa's Jack Smith on a breakaway with 5:31 remaining in regulation of Monday's 4-3 shootout defeat. Smith converted the tying penalty shot, which stood after officials went to replay to see if the puck stopped moving forward before he took the shot.
"We have been playing great lately," said Matt Nieto. "We'll take the point and move on."
Joe Thornton has 14 assists in the past 14 games for San Jose, and Tomas Hertl has four goals and seven points in the past six.
Joe Pavelski has a team-high seven power-play goals for a San Jose team that ranks near the top of the NHL by converting 21.2 percent of its chances.
Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue, will look to rebound from his first regulation defeat in 11 starts since taking over for the injured Mike Smith. He's 7-1-3 with a .936 save percentage as a starter.
San Jose's Martin Jones will likely get an opportunity to win his fifth straight start after posting a 1.95 goals-against average over his last four.
