RECAP: Sharks Outlast Oilers 6-4

The Edmonton Oilers are not going to the playoffs in 2017-18, and that’s really a shame. The final year of Connor McDavid’s entry-level contract will be remembered as one where he probably scores 100 points again, but the Oil are gonna Oil.

The Oilers finished their “must-win” California road trip with exactly 0 wins, a less than satisfying number. They’re a full fifteen points out of third place in the Pacific Division, and if you haven’t yet started thinking about the trade deadline and the draft, now’s the time to start. Roll it out like a blueprint. With just over four months until the draft, we should figure out all about Rasmus Dahlin and Brady Tkachuk.

The Oilers have this trick that they do. They go down by a goal or two to start the game, just to make things interesting. Last night, they went down by three goals, and wildly, they were able to tie it up. Zack Kassian had a pair of goals to make it 3-1 and then 3-2. The Oilers would take a 3-3 tie to the dressing room after Leon Draisaitl tied it up late in the second. Things can’t be too bad when you’re tied after 40, yeah?

Brandon Davidson would put the Oilers up by a 4-3 margin early in the third period. If you’ve made it this far, the Oilers actually scored four consecutive goals in this one, but it mattered not in the end. The Sharks were able to hang three goals on the Oilers in the third period, snatching victory from the jaws of the Edmonton Oilers.

THINGS

• Zack Kassian had two goals for the Oilers last night. I think that’s important to point out because it’s an event when he gets one goal. Two goals might not happen for another eleven years. The goals were Kassian’s fifth and sixth on the year.
• Sharks rookie Joakim Ryan scored the first two goals of his career. The defenceman scored in the second minute for the Sharks on a wrist shot from the blue line, he’d later score the game winner with less than three minutes in the third.

• Not a great night for Al Montoya.
• Oilers got three chances on the power play, but they haven’t cashed on one of those for a couple of games now.
• How many more weeks for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to come back? Three?
• Yohann Auvitu made it back to the lineup yesterday. He had an assist and fifteen minutes of ice time. If it’s a choice between he and Keegan Lowe in the lineup, I’m gonna go with Auvitu.
• Next stop is back to Rogers Place as the Panthers visit on Monday. Get excited!