Arizona Coyotes (8-10-2) at San Jose Sharks (10-9-3), 10 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - After escaping with a point last time out to begin a six-game homestand, the San Jose Sharks will try to reach the win column on Saturday night as they take on the Arizona Coyotes.
The Sharks returned home following an 11-day, 3-4-0 road trip to host the Florida Panthers and dropped a 3-2 decision in a shootout. However, San Jose was lucky to get it that far as it didn't tie the game until Patrick Marleau scored with 33.1 seconds left in regulation and goaltender Antti Niemi pulled for an extra attacker.
Marleau got some redemption for having failed to convert on a penalty shot chance early in the third period and also added an assist while playing in his 400th straight game.
Logan Couture scored a power-play goal, while Niemi stopped 26-of-28 shots for the Sharks. Joe Thornton had an assist to stretch his point streak to eight straight games, with four goals and five helpers on the run.
"The point is great but we're not happy where our game's at," said forward Tommy Wingels. "We're a better team than we showed."
The Sharks have shown themselves to be a good team when facing the Coyotes. They are 6-1-2 in the past nine meetings overall and have claimed 10 of the last 13 played at home.
Niemi is 12-4-3 in his career when facing the Coyotes, posting a 2.06 goals against average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts.
The Coyotes will play the middle portion of a three-game road trip, kicking off the swing with Thursday's 3-1 setback in Dallas.
Lauri Korpikoski scored a power-play goal in the first period, but the Stars scored twice in the first minute of the third frame to go ahead for good and added another late tally in the period.
Mike Smith made 24 saves in defeat, a second straight for Arizona and fifth in seven games, while Sam Gagner picked up the 200th assist of his career.
"You got to play 60 minutes, not 40 minutes to win in this league," said Arizona coach Dave Tippett. "Third period wasn't good enough."
The Coyotes conclude their road trip on Sunday versus Anaheim so it is unknown if Smith or backup Devan Dubnyk will start. Smith is a solid 8-4-2 lifetime versus the Sharks with a 2.12 GAA, .944 save percentage and four shutouts, while Dubnyk is 4-6-2 with a 3.10 GAA and .910 save percentage in 12 meetings.