Couture converts 1st shootout attempt of career to give Sharks 3-2 victory over Coyotes

Sharks beat Coyotes 3-2 in shootout

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Logan Couture converted on his first career shootout attempt to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the Phoenix Coyotes that kept their hopes alive for the top seed in the Western Conference.

After being unable to protect a 2-1 lead in the third period, the Sharks earned the crucial two points when Couture scored in the fifth round of the shootout in San Jose’s final game of the regular season.

That gave the Sharks 113 points on the season, two more than Chicago for the most in the West. The Blackhawks have one game remaining and can clinch the top seed in the playoffs by winning at home Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings because they have won more games than San Jose.

If Chicago wins in regulation and Los Angeles earns at least one point at Colorado, the Sharks would open the playoffs against the Red Wings. They could also face Colorado, Los Angeles or Nashville depending on what happens on the final day of the season.

While the game had big playoff implications for the Sharks, it was just a postseason tuneup for the Coyotes, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

The Coyotes are assured of the fourth seed in the West after finishing second to San Jose in the Pacific Division and will have home-ice advantage for their first-round playoff series. Phoenix set franchise records this season for wins (50) and points (107).

Evgeni Nabokov stopped three of five shots in the shootout to earn his 44th win, tying New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur for the most in the league. The Devils have one game remaining.

After Couture stickhandled past Ilya Bryzgalov to score on the forehand to open the fifth round, Nabokov sealed the win when he stopped Shane Doan at the side of the net.

Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe also scored in the shootout for San Jose. Lauri Korpikoski and Radim Vrbata converted for Phoenix.

The Coyotes tied the game early in the third after Jason Demers and Devin Setoguchi struggled to clear the puck. Matthew Lombardi came up with it in the slot and beat Nabokov for his 19th goal less than 2 minutes into the period. Lee Stempniak also scored for Phoenix.

Patrick Marleau scored his 44th goal and Devin Setoguchi added his 20th for San Jose. Marleau’s goal midway through the second came when he tipped in a shot by Dany Heatley. The tally was originally credited to Heatley, which would have been his 40th of the season and 300th in his career, but was changed after a video review.

NOTES: San Jose didn’t commit a penalty. Phoenix had only two. … Sharks D Niclas Wallin got the night off. … Marleau was selected as the Sharks Player of the Year for the second straight season and record third time overall. Demers was picked as the team’s top rookie. … Jed Ortmeyer was San Jose’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.