After winning seven in a row, the Coyotes drop four of their last five with a loss against the San Jose Sharks 5-2.

The first period saw physical play after the first goal scored by Fredrik Sjostrom with an assist by Kevyn Adams.

Josh Gratton and Rob Davison got in altercation where Davison was clearly the victor. The Coyotes responded; however, so did the Sharks.

Once that bout took place, the war was on. Each team found ways to pound the other with bruising body checks led by Doug Murray and Shane Doan.

The officials missed a high stick infraction committed by Joe Thornton where Coyotes forward Owen Nolan was cut. Seconds later, Patrick Marleau scored to tie the game. Instead of a double minor called on the Sharks for high-sticking, the game was tied at one.

Nonetheless, it was a good road period for the Coyotes.

Then, the second period started.

The Coyotes came out a more cautious team and the physical play went by the wayside. The San Jose Sharks recognized the decreased intensity and took over the game.

The save of the game, and the turning point, was a brilliant stop by Vesa Toskala robbing Shane Doan of a goal on a shorthanded chance. Mike Zigomanis picked up the puck on a turn over and skated over the Sharks blue line. He held on to the puck as long as he could before making a perfect tape-to-tape pass where Doan shot a wrister right into Toskala's glove. I fully expect that save to be on YouTube.com any minute now.

Coyote killer Ryane Clowe scored the insurance goal increasing the Sharks lead 3-1.

Coyotes defenseman Travis Roche scored another goal from assists by Jeremy Roenick and Steven Reinprecht to bring the Coyotes closer 3-2 only to have Matt Carle take back the two goal lead minutes later.

Joe Thornton caps the game off with the empty net goal.

Shane Doan led by example and was one of the best players on ice. Jeremy Roenick also had a good night trying to keep his team in the game. However, the Sharks were too good and the effort in the third period was not enough.

A shot by Owen Nolan hit the upper cross bar so Tom Post assisted Toskala as well this evening.

The Coyotes did their hitting away from the creases and on the perimeter of the ice surface. However, when it came time to move players from the front of goaltender Mikael Tellqvist, they just stood there mesmerized by the puck carrier and the Sharks forwards of Marleau, Clowe, and Thornton as well as Jonathan Cheechoo.

Since the 8-0 debacle, the Sharks have gone 8-1 redeeming their earlier transgressions. It seems that the Coyotes have awakened an angry beast.

Unfortunately, the Josh Gratton effect was not enough to fight back as his record when in the line up now goes 17-9-1.

The Coyotes travel south to Los Angeles to face the Kings in the last game before the All-Star break.

Original post by PB and software by Elliott Back

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