Sharks 3, Oilers 1
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers, playing on three days rest and looking to end their home woes against the exhausted San Jose Sharks, fell short in a 3-1 loss Friday at Rextall Place.
The loss dropped the last place Oilers to 1-7 at home and 4-15-2 overall.
The Oilers have been outscored 23-3 in their last seven home games.
At the other end of the standings, it was more of the same for San Jose, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 24 minutes and to win for the third time in four road games, upping their record to 13-2-5.
The Sharks, playing their second game in as many nights, and fourth road game in the last six nights, were supposed to be the more sluggish of the two teams. And the Oilers, having been shut out in three straight home games, were supposed to be the more desperate.
It didn't quite work out that way, however, as San Jose swarmed Edmonton from the opening faceoff. They hit the post 11 seconds into the game, outshot them 14-6 in the opening period and headed into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Center Joe Pavelski scored his seventh of the season at 15:44 and rookie forward Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading 12th at 17:13. Center Joe Thornton assisted on both as the shell-shocked Oilers were shut out at home for the 10th-straight period.
San Jose had the first seven shots of the second period, extending their lead to 3-0 on forward Patrick Marleau's 10th at 3:45. Thornton assisted on that one, too.
Then, finally, the Oilers scored at home. Winger Nail Yakupov's goal at 12:48 ended a home-ice scoreless streak of 214:52.
The goal seemed to lift the Oilers out of their week-long malaise. They came to life, shifting the momentum in their favor, and controlled the rest of the second period and much of the third. They couldn't score, though, and lost their sixth straight at home.
NOTES: The Oilers had to send their fifth leading scorer, C Mark Arcobello, to the AHL Friday morning to make room for D Oscar Klefbom after getting caught short-handed on defense. They aren't carrying an extra D-man and with one of their defensemen (they won't say who) a little iffy, they had to scramble to get Klefbom to town. ... Oilers D Justin Schultz (who's been out for seven games with a groin injury), says he hopes to be back by Tuesday's game with Columbus. ... Injured Sharks RW Brent Burns is back in an orange no-contact jersey, prompting coach Todd McLellan to say his recovery has "stalled a little bit." ... San Jose has one more game left on their five-game road trip, Sunday in Chicago. ... C Joe Pavelski's first period goal gives him at least a point in eight of San Jose's last nine games.
