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Talbot Shuts Out Sharks Again, Zack Kassian Scores Game Winner, Again

Oilers score just one, but it’s all they’d need as the squeeze is on San Jose

By Jeff Chapman
NHL: Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks
Kassian’s second goal in as many games has Edmonton
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

QUICK HITS

Zack Kassian scored Edmonton’s only goal, but it’s the only goal they needed en route to a 1-0 victory at the Shark Tank. Cam Talbot turned aside 23 shots for his second consecutive shutout, and everything is right in the world for the Edmonton Oilers.

  • This game got better for the Oilers as time went on. Edmonton had just six shots in the first period to San Jose’s 13. The Sharks controlled the play for significant swaths of time for the first 20 minutes. As the game progressed, the Oilers found themselves in the San Jose end more and more.
  • LEADER KASS: Kassian’s goal was his second game winner in as many games. Two goals in three games, that’s good for the team lead.
  • FLAWLESS TALBOT: 23 saves for Cam Talbot en route to his second straight shutout. One goal usually isn’t much to dance about, but when your goaltender stops them all, everything is right in the world.
  • LINE JUGGLING: Todd McLellan put Anton Slepyshev on the first line with McDavid and Maroon and Slepyshev looked good in the limited time we saw him.
  • McDAVID HELD: Connor McDavid didn’t score a point tonight. The last time that happened was over a month ago (12 MAR vs. Montréal)
  • JUMBO JOE: Joe Thornton appeared for the first time after missing games one and two of the series. Thornton had two shots and contributed with just over sixteen minutes of ice time.
  • Here’s a list of all the Sharks who had points tonight: (this space intentionally left blank)
  • 32 HITS? The Sharks were credited with 32 hits after the first period by the statkeepers in San Jose. That’s impressive. It’s also impossible. Over the course of sixty minute game, that’s 96 hits. Dallas Eakins once told Mark Spector that the perfect game is no hits, so it’s easy to see why the Oilers emerged victorious on this day.
  • ONWARD: Oilers will almost certainly need to score more than one goal in Tuesday’s game, but the squeeze is on. Talbot is playing lights out. A 2-1 lead already makes it uncomfortable for the Sharks. I certainly wouldn’t want to be them coming back to Edmonton down 3-1.