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44-26-9, 97 points, 1.228 p/g	Ranks	45-28-7, 97 points, 1212 p/g
Pacific DIvision - 2nd		Pacific Division - 3rd
9th	Points per Game	10th
12th	Special Teams	19th
9th	Shots on Goal	17th
8th	Goals Against per Game	6th

Second In Line

The Oilers burst out to a two goal lead against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, but were unable to keep that lead as the Kings roared back with three goals in the second period.  The Oilers would eventually make ait a 3-3 game by the end of the second, but were unable to hang on in a 6-4 loss to the Kings.  Edmonton's chance at winning the division has flickered a bit over the last 48 hours, and they'll likely need to win out in order to have a chance at the Pacific Division lead.

Tonight, they'll face a Sharks squad that's right there with the Oilers in the standings.   Can the Oilers rebound from Tuesday's loss?

The Oilers are saying

"It's disappointing...Just the opportunity to chase down a spot on Team Canada and be able to represent my country - the Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and not to be able to do that is disappointing, but there are a lot of people higher up making those decisions"

-Source

That's Connor McDavid on the NHL's decision not to go to the Olympics in 2018

Several Oilers will miss this opportunity to play for their respective clubs in 2018.  Of course, there's Connor McDavid for Canada, but there's Leon Draisaitl for Germany and Adam Larsson for Sweden.  McDavid seems none too pleased that he won't be afforded this opportunity, and I'd doubt any of the players feel differently.

The opponents are saying

"I think I was just kind of nervous.  That's all that was.  Don't want to put too much pressure on it, just didn't know what quite happened.  The next morning I woke up, no swelling, no nothing.  Probably like a bruise, I guess"

-Source

That's Sharks forward Joe Thornton.  Thornton was surprisingly out on the ice after sustaining what looked like an ugly leg injury against Vancouver's Michael Chaput on Sunday.

Thornton is out for tonight, but he may return to the Sharks for round one of the playoffs.    Thornton currently ranks fourth on the Sharks with 50 points (7-43-50) in 79 games played.

Have some of this

Defenceman Brent Burns leads the Sharks in scoring with 74 points (28-46-74) in 80 games.

Connor McDavid sits at 95 points after one assist in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Kings.  Five points in three games will give him 100 on the year, and I see two games versus the Canucks coming up.

Talbot will likely want to flush last game from the bowels of his memory, but he'll likely go tonight.   A victory over the Sharks will put him at 41, which would be a new season record for wins by an Oilers goalie.  (40-22-8, .919 SV% / 2.40 GAA / 7 SO).  The Sharks will likely counter with Martin Jones (35-22-6, .913 SV% / 2.37 GAA / 2 SO)

The Oilers will be without Tyler Pitlick (knee).  The Sharks will be without Joe Thornton (lower body) and Logan Couture (mouth)

A LITTLE HELP: Oilers will need to run the table in order to have a chance at winning the Pacific Division.  Anaheim will need to help out by winning no more than one game en route to the end of the season.  I like Edmonton's chances if they can get by the Sharks tonight.

#GOILERS