San Jose, CA – Mikkel Boedker scored the winner in the shootout as the Phoenix Coyotes clipped the San Jose Sharks, 1-0, on Saturday.
After Michal Handzus was stopped by Mike Smith, Boedker skated in on net and faked to the backhand before lifting it over a sprawled-out Antti Niemi.
Smith then kept out James Sheppard's wrister before Radim Vrbata sealed the win by beating Niemi with the same fake and shot as Boedker.
Smith made 33 saves to post his second shutout of the season and 21st of his career for the Coyotes, who have won three of their last four games.
"He was excellent," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "Made some big saves at the right times, some tough saves on shots from the point that came through a lot of traffic. Obviously, when you don't give up any goals in a game with a shootout, your goalie gives you a chance to win, and that's what he did tonight."
Niemi made 21 stops for his 20th career shutout and first of the season for the Sharks, who have dropped four straight after opening the season with seven straight wins.
Smith made 15 saves in the first two periods before turning aside 15 in the third and three in overtime.
"He likes to play deep in the net and he was catching everything," Sharks forward Ryane Clowe said of Smith. "He was grabbing pucks out of the air. He played great."
Niemi's busiest period was the first when he made nine stops as the San Jose defense limited Phoenix to just 12 shots the rest of the way.
Game Notes
San Jose starts a six-game road trip in Columbus on Monday ... Phoenix plays in Colorado on Monday ... San Jose took a 5-3 win over Phoenix on Jan. 24 after dropping four of six last season ... Phoenix went scoreless on three power plays while San Jose failed to score on four.
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