Tag: edmonton oilers

Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Jerry Feitelberg

When it comes to making a good first impression, the San Jose Sharks’ newest acquisition gets passing marks. Evander Kane, acquired Monday at the trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres for a pair of conditional draft picks, and Danny O’Regan, was front and center during the Sharks’ 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center on Tuesday night. The forward, playing on the wing on San Jose’s top line, picked up two assists while proving instrumental in the top line’s success, flanking Joe Pavelski along with Joonas Donskoi.

San Jose rode an explosive second period to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Joe Pavelski picked up a goal and three assists for a four-point night while Justin Braun, Chris Tierney, Timo Meier and Logan Couture all scored for San Jose. Eric Fehr, another trade acquisition making his home debut, notched his 100th career assist and Martin Jones stopped 22 of 24 Oilers’ shots. Connor McDavid and Jesse Puljujarvi scored for Edmonton.

McDavid, reigning Hart Trophy winner as Most Valuable Player, opened the scoring 4:33 into the first period after displaying all the tools that make him a superstar. McDavid showed his trademark burst of speed to burn past Kevin Labanc then unleashed his all-world shot to beat Jones cleanly for his 28th goal of the year.

The Sharks would answer back in a big way in the second period though, and right in the middle of things was San Jose’s new top line. 1:20 into the middle stanza Joe Pavelski made the kind of play you’ve seen his teammates start many times. There was Pavelski in the goal crease, waiting for one of his trademark tips. This time though, it was Evander Kane initiating the play. Kane’s shot-pass went perfectly to Pavelski to tie the game, one of many dynamic moments for the newly established line.

The goal wasn’t without the kind of controversy that will follow a player as physical as Kane can be while toeing an edge between legal and illegal contact. Kane took out defenseman Matt Benning in the corner on a borderline hit, allowing for the breakout to be sprung. Kane, however, is not shy to drop the mitts as is evidenced by his extensive youtube highlights, giving the Sharks some much needed sandpaper.

Kane picked up his second assist as a Shark just over five minutes later after Justin Braun’s point shot deflected ever so much off an Oilers stick past goalie Cam Talbot. Pavelski picked up an assist on the goal for his second point of the night.

Timo Meier picked up his 16th goal of the year after an impressive display of his power forward prowess. Meier drove from the corner to the front of the net, flipping a backhander that found its way through a leaky Talbot for a 3-0 lead. Pavelski picked up his second assist on the goal with 3:45 left in the second.

Logan Couture stuck with a chance curling off the boards a little over a minute later. Couture was trying to feed a cross-crease pass to Tomas Hertl at the far post, but Adam Larsson was able to block off the pass. The puck bounced off Larsson’s skate and Couture worked to the loose puck, flipping it over Talbot for a 4-1 lead with 2:22 left in the middle frame.

Puljujarvi found some chemistry with the Oilers deadline acquisition Pontus Aberg early in the third period. Aberg fed Puljujarvi for his 10th goal of the season 6:06 into the final period. The Oilers would remain silent over the remainder of the contest and Chris Tierney would pot an empty-netter with 55 seconds left for his 16th goal of the season to cap the 5-2 win in Kane’s debut.

The Sharks continue the homestand with contests against the Blackhawks Thursday and Columbus Sunday. They continue to hold on to the second spot in the Pacific Division after leaders Vegas fell to the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Los Angeles is just two points behind San Jose for second with 75 points with fourth place Anaheim three back at 74.

~ Photo credit: (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ Though the San Jose Sharks came to within one twice, two was the decisive number as an early scoring lull gave the Edmonton Oilers a 5-3 win at Rogers Place Monday.

The Sharks scored first, but then gave up three unanswered goals. Edmonton was able to re-establish two-goal leads after San Jose’s attempts to come back. Moreover, right before the Oilers’ third and fourth goal, the Sharks had good and/or close moves at the other end.

San Jose, who was playing without Logan Couture, has now scored three goals in each of their last six games. However, goalie Martin Jones, and the team have given up at least four goals in his last six starts, the last three resulting in an 0-1-2 record. The Sharks were riding a five-game point streak heading into the game.  

Kevin Labanc and Brent Burns assisted on San Jose’s first two goals.  

For Edmonton, Ryan Strome had two goals, Patrick Maroon and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist apiece and Leon Draisaitl had two assists.

It was a more than welcome win for the Oilers as they had lost three in a row at home and a nine-game loss-win pattern overall.

Both teams had power plays early in the first less than a minute apart. It was the Sharks who were productive on special teams though, with a shot on goal shorthanded and their sixth straight game with a power play goal. Burns passed cross ice between two defenders to Kevin Labanc, who from goalie Cam Talbot’s left, shot at Talbot while Joe Pavelski, on Talbot’s right, sent Labanc’s rebound past the goalie at 6:15.

The second half of the first produced better results for Edmonton after a delay of game penalty to Tomas Hertl, which was not called right away. Two seconds after their power play expired, Mark Letestu scored at 14:42, after Draisaitl faked a shot and Oscar Klefbom provided the second assist.   

The Oilers then took the lead with just over a minute left in the period. A wide open far side Strome scored at 18:51, aided by Draisaitl and Jujhar Khaira.

In the second, Jones made three saves in less than a minute which included Connor McDavid as part of a 2-on-1 followed by a shot from McDavid. However, less than a minute after the latter save, Nugent-Hopkins moved Drake Caggiula’s shot in at 13:24, Maroon with the second helper.

San Jose halted the scoring beginning in the opposite end with Burns. He passed to Labanc and Hertl received Labanc’s pass in the neutral zone. Timo Meier blocked Talbot while Meier was in between two defenders as Hertl scored at 8:32 to make it 3-2.

Tripping caused the puck to switch sides quickly as the Sharks’ second power play was cut short when Pavelski was called for the penalty.  Within less time than before though, San Jose went on a now 4-on-3 power play as Strome committed the same offense.

Back-and-forth scoring continued in the third as not long after Tim Heed hit the goalpost, Maroon responded with a goal to pull Edmonton further ahead again. He was assisted by Nugent-Hopkins at 8:32.

Marcus Sorensen took the Sharks’ turn back with his second in as many games, a wraparound goal at 11:58 to make it 4-3. He was aided by Justin Braun and Melker Karlsson.   

Strome notched the 5-3 goal with an empty netter at 19:52, helped by Matt Benning.

Game notes: Couture, who left San Jose’s last game, is day-to-day with a concussion. The Sharks welcomed back Mikkel Boedker, who skated for 8:17 and had a giveaway and a takeaway. The Oilers also welcomed back Adam Larsson who skated for 21:55, had five hits, four blocks and four giveaways.

Up next: San Jose conclude their three game road trip with a 1-1-1 record and will pick back up with a three game homestand before and after Christmas, starting with the Vancouver Canucks again Thursday at 7:30pm.