Entering into the final period of play, the San Jose Sharks got caught with several penalties and unlucky bounces costing them a 5-4 loss against division rival Phoenix Coyotes.

Coyotes’ defensemen Derek Morris scored at 1:46 in the third period off a one-timer feed from Ladislav Nagy.  The goal came off a two-man advantage that was in result of an interference call of Shark’s forward Jonathan Cheechoo in the final seconds of the second period and a delay of game penalty on Shark’s goalie Evgeni Nabokov.  

         “He made a mental mistake and played the puck outside the trapezoid and we go down 5 on 3,” said Sharks head coach Ron Wilson.  “We shouldn’t have been in that position, but we were.  In the league now you can get yourself back into the game, but you can’t give the other team two, three, four opportunities in a row with power plays.”

On the same play, Sharks defensemen Kyle McLaren got called for a boarding.  His frustration from the end of the second period carried on into the third resulting into another power play goal; this time from Sean Doan. 

        The unlucky bounces began when Coyotes’ forward Oleg Saprykin took a hard shot that bounced off both the boards as well as Nabokov and found its way into the net.

Nearly a minute later, Coyotes’ Mike Johnson deflected a shot from Dave Scatchard.  The puck sneaked by Nabokov, who couldn’t make a save attempt.

The Sharks however did not give up, realizing the importance of the game towards their division ranking.  Nils Ekman scored off a rebound nearly two minutes later.  The Sharks attacked full force against Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher that included shots coming from Joe Thornton and Cheechoo.  It was Ekman who took the rebound and shot it past Boucher.

Halfway through the third, Sharks forward Milan Michalek scored a goal after he zoomed by Morris.  The goal cut the Coyotes lead to only one goal, but it was enough.  They held off the Sharks for ten minutes, including off a power play when Boucher was called delay of game. 

The Sharks fall back five points behind the Coyotes and remain in last place of the Pacific Division.

They will try their luck again at home when they face-off against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES

–         Jonathan Cheechoo and Grant Stevenson also scored for the Sharks.

–         Evgeni Nabokov was pulled after the final Coyotes’ goal from Johnson.

–         Coyotes’ coach Wayne Gretzky returned from his leave of absence after his mother passed  away on Dec. 19.