Sharks fall at home to Oilers, 5-2
SAN JOSE – Edmonton defensemen scored five goals Sunday as the streaking Oilers trimmed the San Jose Sharks 5-2 in front of 16,176 at HP Pavilion.
The loss, the first in the past six games for the Sharks, left San Jose in third place in the Western Conference, one point behind Colorado and three ahead of Dallas for the Pacific Division lead. Each of the three teams has seven games to play.
“There are seven games left, so we’ve got to get back to playing on top of our game,” said San Jose coach Ron Wilson.
“We competed hard, we were ready, we had a lot of scoring chances. (Edmonton) scored a goal on just about every one of their scoring chances. Their goalie (Jussi Markkanen) was better than our goalie (Evgeni Nabokov).”
Edmonton has earned at least one point in its past 12 games, reaching the 80-point mark in ninth place in the conference. St. Louis is eighth with 81 points. If the Oilers reach the playoffs, all six of the Canadian teams could be in the post-season.
“Give Edmonton credit,” said San Jose defenseman Scott Hannan. “They’re playing well. It wasn’t a matter of being tired, some mistakes cost of us.” San Jose was playing its third game in four nights.
The Sharks and Dallas, destined to take the Pacific Division race to the title down to the final weekend, each have three games to play this week before colliding Sunday at HP Pavilion. Dallas opens a four-game roadtrip tonight in Calgary, while San Jose continues a homestand Tuesday against conference leader Detroit.
The Sharks gave up two goals in the first period for the fourth straight game. Cory Cross and Marc-Andre Bergeron sandwiched even-strength goals around a Patrick Marleau power play tally in the opening period. Marleau’s goal was his 28th of the season, equaling a career high.
Kyle McLaren’s blast from the left point beat Markkanen 8:29 into the second period for a 2-2 tie. McLaren’s second goal of the season was also his first-ever short-handed goal.
San Jose failed to erase a deficit a third time, however, as the Edmonton blueliners continued to convert scoring chances.
Oiler captain Jason Smith scored at the end of a 3-on-2 rush with Edmonton short-handed 11:59 into the second period.
The Oilers had been strong (19-0-1-2) when leading after two periods, while San Jose was 0-13-4-3 when trailing after two. Edmonton closed out the scoring on an Eric Brewer rip from the high slot 3:19 into the third, then another Bergeron goal in a power play at 9:35.
San Jose out-shot the visitors 34-27.
