SAN JOSE -– The Coyotes weren’t supposed to be here.
A prevailing preseason pick as the NHL’s worst team, Arizona is instead right in the mix for a playoff spot in the weakest division in the league. Headed into Thursday’s meeting, the Coyotes and Sharks are tied for second in the Pacific with 49 points, although San Jose has one game in hand. It’s the first of five games between the teams in the second half of the season.
“I don’t think it’s a flash in the pan. I think they’re for real,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said.