SAN JOSE —San Jose began a stretch of five games in nine days with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes at SAP Center at San Jose.
Coach Todd McLellan sprinkled the San Jose lineup with rookies. Satisfied with the play of the new skaters, the coach cautioned that “it’s going to be a fight to keep your job now.”
McLellan noted that defensemen Taylor Fedun and Mirco Mueller “both did some really good things.” Fedun put four shots on net and Mueller had 24 shifts.
“They improved their status amongst the club,” added McLellan. “We’ll have some decisions to make. Often that’s about keeping one (rookie); maybe two or three of them can push some veterans out.”
San Jose outshot Arizona 45-18, making it three straight games holding the edge in shots on net this preseason.
Goaltender Antii Niemi “was comfortable in the net,” said McLellan.
The Coyotes scored a power play goal on a broken play eight seconds after getting the man advantage. Justin Hodgman earned his fourth goal of the preseason out of nine total for the Coyotes at the 3:27 mark of the first period. Arizona did not put another shot on Niemi for nearly 13 minutes.
San Jose returned the favor in the second period by needing five seconds of power play time before Joe Pavelski deflected home a Brett Burns shot from the right point at the 7:16 mark.
The Coyotes scored on both shootout opportunities, while San Jose was limited to a goal by Pavelski in three attempts against back-up goaltender Louis Domingue.
The Sharks host Anaheim at 5 p.m. tomorrow, then take on the Los Angeles Kings at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday before hitting the road for games Friday at Arizona and next Saturday at Anaheim.
