Sharks 4, Coyotes 3 (SO)
SHARKS 4, COYOTES 3 (SO): Michal Handzus and Ryane Clowe scored in the shootout as San Jose edged Phoenix for its fourth win in five home games.
Patrick Marleau, defenseman Brent Burns and Daniel Winnik tallied in regulation, captain Joe Thornton notched two assists and Antti Niemi made 24 saves for the Sharks, who improved to 2-0-0 on their three-game homestand.
San Jose is tied in points with Los Angeles and Colorado for eighth place in the Western Conference but remains on the outside of the playoff picture.
Handzus began the shootout by beating Mike Smith to the stick side. After Niemi stopped Mikkel Boedker, Clowe followed Handzus' lead, firing the puck past Smith in the same spot.
Ray Whitney failed to convert Phoenix's second opportunity, clinching the win for San Jose.
Phoenix took a 1-0 lead 6 1/2 minutes into the contest as Gilbert Brule made a pass from the left side of the net to Daymond Langkow, who beat Niemi from the slot for his second goal in as many games.
But San Jose jumped ahead as Marleau ended his eight-game goalless drought at 8:09 and Burns scored on a shot from the top of the slot with 2:32 remaining in the opening period.
Blue-liner Derek Morris tallied just before time expired in the session to tie it and Lauri Korpikoski tipped in a pass from Whitney 49 seconds into the middle period to give Phoenix a 3-2 edge. However, former Coyote Winnik beat Smith with a blast from above the right faceoff circle at 5:01 for his second goal in as many contests.
Langkow added an assist and Smith stopped 29 shots for the Coyotes, who climbed into seventh place in the West.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Whitney's assist left him three points shy of 1,000 for his career. It also extended his points streak to seven games. ... Thornton's two assists tied him with Larry Robinson for 40th on the all-time list with 750. ... San Jose has scored three goals or less in each of its last 20 games. ... The Coyotes have earned at least one point in eight of their last nine contests (4-1-4). ... Phoenix has lost five of seven on the road and seven of its last eight visits to HP Pavilion.