GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers @ San Jose Sharks

Edmonton Oilers (20-19-3) (6th, Pacific)

San Jose Sharks (24-13-7) (3rd, Pacific)

8:30 PM MST

SAP Center

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Fear The Fin

If the Oilers can win tonight in San Jose, it could give them as many points as Dallas and Anaheim in the chase for the second wild card in the Western Conference. We have lofty goals. The Sharks are on their second game in as many nights, can the Oilers take advantage?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

...Cam has been trending this way. Like I said, it’s 1 and 1A. If we get into the playoffs both guys are going to have to be a big part of the story.

Source

That’s Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock on Cam Talbot’s weekend. Talbot came in to relieve Mikko Koskinen on Saturday against the Kings, he also stopped 39 shots in Edmonton’s 4-0 victory over the Ducks.

It’s a good time for Cam Talbot to be trending back to the old Cam Talbot. The Oilers are clawing to get to the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, and there’s a good chance that Hitch will ride with 33 tonight in San Jose.

The Sharks are saying

I think that we’ve come together as a team and we’re playing better and better as the season gets long. That’s all that matters, as long as you win games. Everybody’s contributing, whatever you do out there, and I think that’s been the mindset in here with the entire group, that it doesn’t really matter who does it, as long as someone does it and everybody does it together

Source

That’s Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson after his 3-assist night on Monday. The Sharks defeated the Kings by a 3-1 margin. Three goals, three assists, not too bad?

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• Last we left the top line, it featured a rotund line presence of Jujhar Khaira, Connor McDavid and Zack Kassian. Connor McDavid scored the greasiest of goals in the first period while that line was on the ice, it’s a fair bet we see more of that trio tonight.
• Now that I’m thinking about it, Jesse Puljujarvi had a nice no-look backhander, and Kyle Brodziak scored a shorthanded goal. Lock ‘em in, those lines probably aren’t changing much tonight.
• Patrick Maroon was a healthy scratch in St. Louis recently. Do you make a move for the former 27 goal scorer? (I’ve tried to offer up Brandon Manning. I think they’re on to me.)
• I’m having a hard time finding a situation where Caleb Jones gets sent back to Bakersfield in the near future. He’s already top four in time on ice, it also helps things when you pick up two assists against the Ducks.
• NET GAINS: Do you walk away from a goalie that just got you a shutout on Sunday? Maybe. Either way, I’ve got Cam Talbot (8-11-2, .899 SV% / 3.08 GAA / 1 SO) going against San Jose’s Aaron Dell (5-5-3, .890 SV% / 3/10 GAA / 2 SO). Martin Jones picked up the W for San Jose against LA last night.
• SICK BAY: The Oilers are without Andrej Sekera (ankle), Oscar Klefbom (finger) and Kailer Yamamoto (upper body). The Sharks are without Justin Braun (knee) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (knee)