Sharks score seven goals in Game 4 win, even series

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks had been shut out by the Edmonton Oilers in back-to-back games entering Game 4 of their Western Conference First Round series at SAP Center on Tuesday.
It took Joe Pavelski 15 seconds to give San Jose a 1-0 lead, and the Sharks kept scoring on their way to a 7-0 victory against the Oilers.
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Edmonton on Thursday.

Pavelski and Logan Couture each scored two goals, and Martin Jones made 23 saves for the fourth Stanley Cup Playoff shutout of his career, the previous three coming last season in San Jose's run to the Final.
WATCH: All Oilers vs. Sharks highlights | RELATED: Complete San Jose vs. Edmonton series coverage
The Sharks tied their postseason record for most goals in a game and set their record with four power-play goals in eight opportunities.
Patrick Marleau, Marcus Sorensen and David Schlemko each scored, and Brent Burns had three assists for San Jose.
"That was something we wanted to do, obviously, was get one early," Couture said of Pavelski's goal, the fastest to start a playoff game in Sharks history. "This is an intimidating building to play in, and it is even more when you've got a lead early. [Pavelski] made a great tip on that one, the building got into it, and we rode that momentum."
Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot made saves on all 39 shots he faced in Games 2 and 3 but gave up five goals on 24 shots Tuesday and was replaced by Laurent Brossoit at 12:52 of the second period.
"We didn't start the night the way we wanted to," Talbot said. "I mean, we gave up a goal right away and we knew they were going to come hard after that and re-establish themselves. We talk about that 10-minute game and starting on the right foot, and we didn't do that tonight. We gave them all the momentum they needed to carry through the rest of the game."
Pavelski gave the Sharks the early lead when he redirected Justin Braun's shot past Talbot for his first goal of the playoffs. It was the first time San Jose opened the scoring in the series.

"Our first period was probably similar to last game's first period except we got on the board and got things rolling," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "That's an important piece, getting that momentum. We weren't able to do it last game. To get it early tonight and get that feeling was critical."
San Jose increased its lead to 2-0 on a power-play goal by Couture at 11:02 of the first. It was his first goal of the series.
Marleau made it 3-0 at 2:02 of the second period when he scored his first goal of the series, also on the power play.
Sorensen knocked a rebound past Talbot from close range for his first goal of the series, extending San Jose's lead to 4-0 at 9:46 of the second.

Couture scored his second goal of the game at 12:52 of the second on a snap shot from the right faceoff circle to make it 5-0.
The Sharks went on their fourth power play of the game at 13:44 of the second when Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for spearing Chris Tierney, who went to the locker room in pain but returned for the third period.
Pavelski tipped in a Burns shot for his second goal of the game at 16:46 of the second to make it 6-0, and Schlemko scored a power-play goal at 6:45 of the third period.
"Tonight was a big lesson to learn," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "That just proves to our group that teams can get to another level. The momentum right off the bat was real important. Undisciplined play especially catches up with you. Tonight was their night finally."

Goal of the game

Pavelski went to the slot after winning a faceoff against Connor McDavid and got his stick on Braun's wrist shot from the right point for San Jose's first goal since Melker Karlsson scored 3:22 into overtime in Game 1.

Save of the game

Jones made 12 saves in the first period, including with 7:04 left and the Oilers on the power play when he got his left pad on Mark Letestu's redirection from the slot.

Unsung performance of the game

Sharks defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Braun spent much of the game playing against McDavid and held the NHL scoring champion without a point for the second straight game.

Highlight of the game

The Sharks entered the game with one power-play goal in 14 chances, but Couture took a cross-ice pass from Pavelski and beat Talbot from the right circle on San Jose's first man-advantage opportunity of the game.

They said it

"We need a little more from everybody. No time to panic, no time to start second-guessing ourselves, no time for doubt to start creeping in. We've just got to find a way to bounce back as quick as possible." -- Oilers forward Milan Lucic
"We were just ready. Everyone was ready. … We just got inside and made a few plays and the power play responded with a little momentum, for sure, scoring some goals and being dangerous. We were just building off it. There weren't really any lapses in our game." -- Sharks captain Joe Pavelski
"A lot of times with players looking for answers, it's as simple as that. Come in and shuffle the deck and start fresh."-- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer on playing Patrick Marleau on the top line with Pavelski and center Joe Thornton, among other lineup moves for Game 4

Need to know

The Sharks scored seven goals April 30, 1999, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Colorado Avalanche and April 20, 2014, in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round against the Los Angeles Kings. … San Jose forward Mikkel Boedker was scratched for the second straight game.

What's next

Game 5 of Western Conference First Round at Rogers Place on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports, NBCSCA)