Kellers Hat Trick leads COYOTES over SHARKS 6-4...
RECAP 3/22/20
San Jose, CA- Clayton Keller had his First Career Hat Trick to help the Red Hot Arizona Coyotes(41-25-10) beat the San Jose Sharks(42-23-9) inside the SAP Center on Sunday Night.
"Amazing to get that Hat Trick, especially against the Stanley Cup Champions too, I mean they just won the Cup and they're the best Team. They set the standard for the year." Keller stated.
The Coyotes jumped all over the defending Champions with a 5-0 lead in just the First Period.
"They really got up on us before we could even blink it seemed like." Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer stated.
In the first 15 Minutes, Arizona(41-25-10) jumped out to a 4-0 lead when Clayton Keller(17,18), Michael Grabner(9), and Niklas Hjalmarrson(1) scored.
Sharks Goalie Martin Jones(26-20-7) gave up 4 Goals on just 7 Shots and was pulled with 5 Minutes left in just the First Period.
Backup Goalie Joey Backstrom allowed 2 Goals on 18 Shots as he finished with 16 Saves to give the Sharks some confidence.
Grabner(10) scored to make it 5-0 Arizona at the end of the First.
"The way we've been playing this Season is great for this Team. We feel we can contend and beat anybody. It's been an exciting year for us but we're not quite done yet. San Jose is still the Team to beat until somebody else holds up the Stanley Cup." Coyotes Head Coach Rick Tocchet stated.
The Sharks(42-23-9) got on the board in the Second Period when Alternate Captain Logan Couture scored. His 33rd Goal of the year.
In the Third Period, San Jose mounted a comeback when Justin Callahan(27), Curtis Sawyer(22), and Evander Kane(34) scored that made it 5-4 before Clayton Keller scored his 3rd Goal for his first ever Hat Trick.
Arizona Goaltender Antti Raanta made 30 saves for the Coyotes.
San Jose(42-23-9) will begin a 3 Game Road Trip on the West Coast with their first stop in Edmonton, Canada against the Oilers(39-30-5) and former Head Coach Todd McLellan.
Then it's a trip to The Fortress to face the Vegas Golden Knights(30-34-11) who are on the verge of missing the Playoffs for the Second year in a row and sit 14 Points out of a Wildcard spot.
Then on Friday March 27 the Sharks head to Southern California to face the Division leading Anaheim Ducks(48-23-4) who just clinched the Westerns First Playoff spot.