by Jerry Feitelberg

The San Jose Sharks were shut out Wednesday night by the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 3-0. It was the second consecutive game that the Sharks have not scored a goal but it was not for lack of effort. The Sharks came out flying and sent 59 shots on goal and not one made it past Oiler goalie Ben Scrivens. Scrivens was magnificent . The Oilers acquired the Spruce Grove, Alberta native from the Los Angeles Kings on January 15th and he put on a show in front of his home town fans. There has never been a shutout since expansion in the 1967-68 season that has had a goalie pitch a shutout and stop 59 shots. After the game, Sharks’ head coach Todd McLellan said “Hats off to the goaltender…give him credit where credit is due. We attempted 100 shots tonight and he was Superman.”

The Sharks had twenty shots on goal in the first period but Edmonton scored at the 11:51 mark of the first period. Justin Schultz beat Niemi on a blast from the right point as Niemi was screened on the play. The score came on Edmonton’s fourth shot on goal of the period. The Sharks had two power play opportunities but could not get anything by Scrivens.

There was no scoring in the second period but the play was fast and furious. The Sharks continued to pepper Scrivens with shots but they could not put the puck in the net. The Sharks were unlucky as shots by Wingels and Joe Thornton hit the crossbar or the post and they were denied. The Sharks had 42 shots on goal after two periods of play.

In the third period, the Oilers took a 2-0 lead when they had a 2-1 break and Taylor Hall took a cross ice pass from Jordan Eberle and his wrister went over Niemi’s right shoulder for the score. Time of goal was at 6:10. The Sharks still had time to get back in the game as they got their third power play opportunity of the night. The Oilers killed the penalty and sealed the win when Jordan Eberle scored on a power play with just 1:02 left in the game.

Notes-. The Sharks’ remain is second place in the Pacific Division with 74 points and their record is now 34-14-6. Edmonton has won three straight but they are in last place in the division with a record of 18-32-6 good for 42 points. Looks like Edmonton will miss the playoffs for the eighth year in a row.

The Sharks travel to Calgary to face the Flame Thursday night then return home for four more games before the break for the Olympics.