Coming into the final pre-season game with a 4-1-2 record, the Arizona Coyotes like all NHL teams, are evaluating the players on their roster to decide what their team will look like on opening night.
Roster choices remain to be made
With 28 players on the training camp roster, decisions will be made who remains on the roster and who doesn't. The deadline for final rosters is Tuesday.
While a couple of players have injuries, with one serving a suspension, there are still some players who remain on the bubble as to their status.
Michael Stone is still recovering from a leg injury, and will not be ready for opening night. Kevin Cannauton likewise has a lower body injury he is attempting to recuperate from soon.
Jarred Tinordi was suspended near the end of last season, and will have four games remaining on that suspension.
Players like Jakob Chychrun, Jamie McBain, Dakota Mermis, Anthony DeAngelo, Stefan Fournier, and Christian Fischer are all vying for remaining spots on the team.
First period facts
The Stanley Cup finalist San Jose Sharks drew first blood by scoring at 3:37 of the initial stanza. Jonas Donskoi scored on a scramble in front of Mike Smith's net. He got helpers from Logan Couture and former Coyote Mikkel Boedker.
At 13:48 the Arizona Coyotes answered back with the tying tally, when young defenseman Anthony DeAngelo scored off a rebound shot by Anthony Duclair. It was a rocket of a shot, which goalie Martin Jones couldn't stop.
The first period ended with a 1-1 score. Alex Goligoski had gotten called for hooking at 19:34 to give the Sharks the first power play of the game, which carried on into to the next period of play.
The Yotes continued the trend of being outshot, as San Jose managed 13 shots to Arizona's seven.
Second period highlights
The Sharks failed to capitalize on their man advantage opportunity. Early on, the play was back and forth as both teams attempted to take the lead.
Then, the Coyotes surged to the lead with a freak angle goal from Radim Vrbata at 8:48. He was assisted by Martin Hanzal and Luke Schenn.
The solid, steady play of Chychrun on the blue-line was on display once again, promoting his chances to remain on the roster for the opening game of the 2016-17 season.
The Coyotes had a power play of their own at 10:28 when Tommy Wingels was called for high sticking. Other than a close in rebound chance by Vrbata, the power play was futile.
Hanzal got called for high sticking at 15:14, but the Sharks hardly threatened Smith.
At the end of two periods, the Coyotes were out in front 2-1.
Final period frenzy
The Coyotes had a partial breakaway by Jordan Martinook, who was slashed by Brenden Dillon as he broke in on Sharks netminder Jones. The Desert Dogs didn't manage to score and supplement their lead.
The Sharks had a two man advantage when Oliver Ekman-Larsson was charged with high sticking at 8:51, and Martinook was called for the same at 9:45. The Sharks were showing off their excellent passing skills and peppering Smith with shots, while Murphy, Golligoski and Richardson kept the one goal lead intact.
The penalty kill frustrated the elite Sharks, and caused a scuffle near the San Jose bench, as Max Domi and Marc-Edouard Vlasic were called for coincidental slashing penalties.
When the final two minutes of the period approached, the Sharks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. The plan failed as Doan got an empty net goal with 10.1 seconds remaining in the period. The assists were accessed to Martinook and Ekman-Larsson.
Three stars of the game
1st star - Anthony DeAngelo
2nd star- Mike Smith
3rd star - Radim Vrbata
Now, the Coyotes travel down to Tucson for an exhibition game against their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners on Sunday at 1pm. The admission is free, and all proceeds donated go to the University of Arizona Hockey program.