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Oilers @ Sharks Game 43 Preview

Yak is back.   Maybe he'll play more than six minutes tonight, too.
Yak is back. Maybe he'll play more than six minutes tonight, too.
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports



Oilers3

@

Sharks3
13-24-5, .738 p/g Ranks 25-9-6, 1.4 p/g
Western Conference: 14th Western Conference: 4th
29th P/G 5th
24th ST 1st
28th ES 8th
30th Goal 10th
8:30 PM MDT - Sportsnet West
SAP Center
The opposing view: Fear The Fin

Tickets - TiqIQ

Top Story

  • Nail Yakupov finds himself back in the top six after being scratched in Phoenix.  The Oilers went on to lose to the Coyotes with just under seven seconds remaining in overtime.  Phoenix outshot the Oilers 45-25, including a 21-6 first period.  Roman Horak played thirteen minutes and had one shot.

Wanna see a frustrated Oiler?

I don't want to say that's a terse exchange between Ilya Bryzgalov and the media, but that's not exactly what I'd call a 'friendly' exchange either.  While Bryzgalov doesn't throw his teammates under the bus, he's not exactly taking the company line when he tells Bob Stauffer he has 'no comment' when asked whether or not he thinks the team is playing better on defence.

I like the end of this clip when Bryzgalov denies any knowledge about him flailing his arms after allowing a bad goal. Here's a tip, Ilya:  when they start to turn the heat up, ask what the Fenwick numbers of the fourth line look like. They'll back right the hell off.

The Opponent is saying:

"You have to look at yourself individually, i challanged them to do that on the plane on the way home.  What do you do? What do you bring to the team?  Are you an energy guy, do you hit, do you block shots, or do you just take up space?"

That's Sharks coach Todd McLellan after a 6-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.  While the Sharks are a pretty damn good hockey club, McLellan's interview sounds like he's been listening to the Sportsnet intermission reports a little too closely.

Of note:

  • Nail Yakupov is expected to slot in at the 2LW position, replacing...wait for it...Roman Horak in the lineup.  He'll be next to Sam Gagner and Jordan Eberle.  Maybe he'll even play more than six minutes, too.
  • Taylor Hall has eight points in his last four games, including a three point effort in Edmonton's 4-3 loss to the Coyotes on Tuesday night.  Gee, he's pretty good.  Hope a certain hockey selection committee takes notice.
  • Mark Arcobello and Ryan Jones are ready to return, although they're going to sit one more game
  • Oilers play three games over the next four days.  I've got Dubnyk penciled in for tonight and Bryzgalov in tomorrow versus Anaheim.

The Edmonton Oilers

Taylor HallRyan Nugent-HopkinsDavid Perron

Nail Yakupov - Sam GagnerJordan Eberle

Ryan SmythBoyd GordonAles Hemsky

Luke GazdicAnton LanderJesse Joensuu

Andrew FerenceJustin Schultz

Nick SchultzJeff Petry

Anton BelovMartin Marincin

Devan Dubnyk

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The San Jose Sharks

Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Matt Nieto

Brent Burns - Joe Thornton - Joe Pavelski

Bracken Kearns - Freddie Hamilton - Tyler Kennedy

James Sheppard - Andrew Desjardins - Mike Brown

Matt Irwin - Dan Boyle

Justin Braun - Brad Stuart

Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Jason Demers

Antti Niemi