Sharks score three goals late in third period to defeat Coyotes

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks scored three goals late in the third period, including two in 44 seconds, to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 at SAP Center on Sunday.

Timo Meier tied it 2-2 at 15:31 before Noah Gregor made it 3-2 at 16:15 with a backhand on a wraparound.
"He was excellent all night, probably our best player," Sharks forward Logan Couture said of Gregor. "All over the puck, creating chances. He's had a lot of games like that this year where he's been on pucks and moving his feet, and he's easy to play with, but pucks just haven't gone in."
Rudolfs Balcers shot into an empty net at 19:10 for the 4-2 final.
"The good part is we found a way and we had a good last four minutes," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "I know it's our third game in four days, and I know some guys are a little bit fatigued."

Gregor had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer made 23 saves for San Jose (27-27-8), which had lost three straight (0-2-1)
"We came out hard the first five minutes, and then I thought that we started trying to be a little too fancy, not shooting enough pucks," Boughner said. "They play the exact same system in the neutral zone as us, and we talked about that before the game. We were a little hardheaded, we refused to chip down pucks, we tried to skate through their wall just as we want teams to do to us, and it just caused too many turnovers."
Phil Kessel and Lawson Crouse each had a goal and an assist, and Karel Vejmelka made 25 saves for the Coyotes (20-38-4), who were coming off a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
"It was two chances, two goals," Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. "The first period we did not play the way we wanted, but after that it was a good game with both teams defending the neutral zone very well."
Nick Bonino gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead 20 seconds into the first period when he deflected Andrew Cogliano's shot from the right face-off circle.
"We weren't able to execute, and when that happens, you need to simplify your game," Tourigny said. "[But] we found a way to score a big goal, and we need to make more plays."

Kessel tied it 1-1 at 18:00 of the second period with a tap-in at the right post off a pass from Crouse. It was his first goal since Feb. 9 (15 games) and second in 33 games.
"When they get one, we have to do our best to get it back," Crouse said.
Crouse made it 2-1 with a power-play goal at 15:09 of the third period. It was his 20th goal, the first time in his six NHL seasons he has reached that mark.
"He is the ultimate pro," Tourigny said. "The way he prepares, the way he works and practices, and he fights for his teammates."
NOTES: Sharks forward Jonathan Dahlen left in the third period after being hit with a puck. There was no update. ... Bonino's goal is the fastest to start a game for the Sharks since Gregor scored 17 seconds into a 6-4 win against the Coyotes on April 26. ... The last time San Jose won in regulation when trailing within the last five minutes was Dec. 2, 2006, a 3-2 victory at the Detroit Red Wings. ... Kessel has scored in his past five games against the Sharks and has 18 points (11 goals, seven assists) in 10 games against them since the start of the 2020-21 season. ... Crouse has scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past four games. … Coyotes forward Clayton Keller had his eight-game point streak end (six goals, nine assists).