SAN JOSE – Dylan DeMelo scored just 40 seconds into overtime, giving the Sharks a 3-2 win over Arizona in preseason action at SAP Center on Friday.
DeMelo whizzed in a wrist shot from the high slot after an offensive zone faceoff win by Tommy Wingels to give the Sharks their second preseason overtime win in as many games.
Arizona took a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period. Conor Garland won a loose puck battle with Justin Braun before centering to Jordan Martinook, who found daylight past Aaron Dell at 8:45.
San Jose tied the game after Arizona goalie Louie Domingue misplayed a rim behind the net, allowing Ryan Carpenter to squeeze a puck through the near side before Domingue could get settled in the crease again at 11:18 of the second period.
The Coyotes re-took the lead just 33 seconds later after Mirco Mueller turned the puck over in the defensive zone, and then couldn’t tie up Michael Bunting’s stick in front of the net at 11:51.
Playing in his first game since getting hurt in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Tomas Hertl tied it at 2-2 at 7:11 of the third. He corralled a Braun blast that sailed wide, and wrapped it around and through Domingue.
Barracuda tough guy Alex Gallant left an impression. The 23-year-old earned a 10-minute misconduct after a scrum in the first period, flattened Ryan White with a hard check along the boards in the second, and won a fight with Lawson Crouse, also in the middle frame.
For the second straight game the Sharks held a significant shot advantage over their opponent. They outshot the Coyotes 35-22, after doing the same to the Canucks on Tuesday, 33-15.
Special teams
The Sharks failed on four power play chances, while Arizona finished 0-for-1. The Sharks have yet to score or allow a power play goal through two preseason games.
In goal
Dell was making his first-ever preseason start, and stopped 20 of 22 shots. Last year, he came on in relief of Troy Grosenick in the preseason opener in the only action he saw. Grosenick served as the backup.
Domingue allowed three goals on 35 shots.
Lineup
The Sharks announced before the game that prospect Timo Meier, the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft, would miss the next four weeks with a case of mononucleosis.
Among the Sharks veterans making their preseason debut were Hertl, Braun, Joel Ward, Patrick Marleau, Melker Karlsson and Paul Martin.
Marleau missed the third period because he was not feeling well, according to coach Pete DeBoer.
Up next
The Sharks play the third of their six-game preseason slate on Sunday in Vancouver. The game will be shown on tape delay on Monday at 10 a.m. on the NHL Network.
San Jose closes out the home portion of its preseason schedule on Wednesday against Anaheim. The regular season opener is at SAP Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12 against Los Angeles.
