Coyotes 2 - 3 Sharks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Couture lifts Sharks past Coyotes in SO

Mar 31, 2013 - 7:23 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Logan Couture scored in the first round of the shootout to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2, on Saturday.

Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who have won four in a row and sit sixth in the Western Conference. Marc-Edouard Vlasic also lit the lamp.

Antti Niemi, who came into the game with two straight shutouts, made 27 saves for the victors.

Radim Vrbata and Boyd Gordon scored for the Coyotes, who are two points behind the St. Louis Blues for eighth place in the West. Jason LaBarbera stopped 32- of-34 shots.

"It was a close game. I liked the way we competed tonight," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said.

Gordon gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead at the 14:43 mark of the first period. Rob Klinkhammer controlled the puck behind the net before making his way to the bottom of the left circle. Klinkhammer's shot left a rebound for Gordon.

Pavelski's power-play goal at the 10:24 mark of the middle stanza made it 1-1. His slap shot from the right point got past LaBarbera.

"When you're in a little stretch like this you're just trying to remind yourself to shoot the puck, and that's been a big part," said Pavelski, who has scored a goal in four straight games. "It's been a simple game. We've gotten a lot of pucks in deep. We got some good looks tonight. We got some really good looks."

Phoenix went back in front just 33 seconds into the third period. Vrbata knocked home his own rebound following a shot from the slot.

Vlasic tied the game with five minutes left in regulation. He jammed home a rebound off Pavelski's shot from along the goal line.

Each team took two shots in overtime. Niemi stopped Steve Sullivan, Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker in the shootout.

Game Notes

San Jose leads the season series, 2-1 ... Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski (upper body) missed his third straight game ... San Jose was without defenseman Jason Demers (undisclosed).






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