Considering how tightly packed the Pacific Division standings are, the Sharks and Coyotes postseason lives could conceivably come down to how they do against one another. Strangely, Thursday’s game in Glendale was the first of five matchups between the teams over the next 12 weeks.
First period goals and Tommy Wingels and Chris Tierney, and 23 saves from Martin Jones allowed San Jose to get the early edge in the important season series, leading the Sharks to a 3-1 win.
San Jose finds itself in second place in the Pacific Division on Friday morning (24-18-3, 51 points), tied with Vancouver but holding three games in hand on the Canucks, who they also have yet to see.