Coyotes Slip Past Sharks 2-1
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Radim Vrbata scored two power-play goals and the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a split-squad preseason game on Saturday.
Vrbata scored the winner at 10:41 of the third period. Stationed in the slot, Vrbata took a backhand pass from Ray Whitney and his one-timer beat Thomas Greiss inside the right post from 25 feet.
Most of the Sharks regulars skipped this trip to take on the Coyotes in a split-squad game at San Jose, including goalie Antti Niemi.
Skating with a two-man advantage, Phoenix struck late in the first period. Positioned to the right of the net, Vrbata scored his first goal when he converted a pass from Whitney at 18:07 to make it 1-0.
The Sharks tied it at 1-1 early in the second period when Jaime McGunn poked in a goal-mouth scramble at 2:43.
Phoenix had its best opportunity to break the tie with just over 4 minutes remaining in the second period. On the power play, Adrian Aucoin's shot hit off the right post. For the second straight game, Ilya Bryzgalov played the entire game for Phoenix. Greiss played 57:40 for the Sharks.
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