Coyotes no match for desperate Sharks in San Jose: By the Numbers
Apr 4, 2015, 5:22 AM | Updated: 5:26 am
With the season slowly drawing to a close, the losses continue to pile up for the Arizona Coyotes, as the San Jose Sharks imposed their will from wire to wire Friday night, defeating the ‘Yotes 3-1.
Outside of pride and the race for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft, the Coyotes have had little for this season, slogging through a schedule that has exposed them every which way. Friday loss to San Jose — a team clinging to fading playoff hopes — was but another reminder of far Arizona has to go before rising to the level of a contender in the Western Conference.
With goaltender Mike Smith getting the night off, backup Louis Domingue got the start in net against the Sharks, getting off to a rocky start as San Jose peppered Domingue with six shots on goal in the first five minutes of the contest.
Though he would let two shots find the back of the net in the first period, Domingue finished the game strong, notching 34 saves.
Still, moral victories don’t exist in professional sports, and with only four games left in the regular season, the urgency to put this season behind Arizona is palpable.
Here’s a look at the ‘Yotes loss, by the numbers:
5
The first five minutes of the game yielded two goals for San Jose on six shots, as the Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. In fact, in the first period, the ‘Yotes were thoroughly dominated, getting outshot 16-3 by San Jose.
2-0 after 20, and #SJSharks holding an even more dominating 16-3 edge on the shot clock.
— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) April 4, 2015
6
Mark Arcobello’s goal 2:34 into the second period cut the Coyotes’ deficit to 2-1, giving Arcobello his 16th goal of the season and earning him his sixth point in the last five games.
That's another goal for @sporkabella – his 16th of the season and his 8th with #Coyotes
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) April 4, 2015
3
Friday’s loss was the third in a row for the Coyotes after previously winning two straight.
34
The 34 saves registered by Louis Domingue against San Jose marked the second most saves in a game by the 23-year-old goalie this season. Making only his fourth start of the year, Domingue held up well after surrendering two goals in the first five minutes of the game.
37-21
It felt like the ‘Yotes were playing on the their heels from the jump, as San Jose outshot Arizona 37-21 Friday night.
2
Following Friday’s loss to the Sharks, the Coyotes are now two points behind Buffalo for the worst record in the NHL. That margin is perhaps all that separates Arizona from a once-in-a-generation talent in Connor McDavid.
