Sharks at Oilers preview
Marleau can move up NHL all-time, goal-scoring list; Edmonton seeks ninth win in 13 games
by Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
SHARKS (23-27-4) at OILERS (28-19-6)
9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SNW, NHL.TV
The Game
Patrick Marleau will look to pass Mike Modano for 25th place on the NHL all-time, goal-scoring list when the San Jose Sharks visit the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Thursday.
Marleau has 561 goals in 1,707 games, including a team-record 518 with the Sharks.
Goalie Aaron Dell will start for San Jose, which is 2-5-0 in its past seven games after going 5-2-1 in its previous eight. The Sharks won 3-1 at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Goalie Mikko Koskinen will start for Edmonton, which is 8-2-2 in its past 12 games after going 2-7-1 in its previous 10. The Oilers lost 3-0 at the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.
Players to watch
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson leads the team with 37 points (five goals, 32 assists) in 53 games this season.
Oilers center Connor McDavid has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games.
They said it
"They have two of the best players in the League and it's fun to play against those guys. I think that motivation comes easy against top players like that, you know you're going to have to play at your best to have a chance to play against their best." -- Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson on playing against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
"When you lose a tough game you want to be able to bounce back right away. For us, being able to come back in our home rink, in front of our home fans is important." -- Oilers forward Josh Archibald
Sharks projected lineup
Evander Kane -- Barclay Goodrow -- Patrick Marleau
Timo Meier -- Joe Thornton -- Kevin Labanc
Melker Karlsson -- Alexander True -- Stefan Noesen
Marcus Sorensen -- Maxim Letunov -- Dylan Gambrell
Brenden Dillon -- Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Erik Karlsson
Radim Simek -- Mario Ferraro
Aaron Dell
Martin Jones
Scratched: Antti Suomela, Tim Heed
Injured: Dalton Prout (upper body), Logan Couture (ankle), Joel Kellman (undisclosed), Tomas Hertl (knee)
Oilers projected lineup
Josh Archibald -- Connor McDavid -- Sam Gagner
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Leon Draisaitl -- Kailer Yamamoto
Jujhar Khaira -- Riley Sheahan -- Zack Kassian
Tyler Benson -- Gaetan Haas -- Alex Chiasson
Darnell Nurse -- Ethan Bear
Oscar Klefbom -- Adam Larsson
William Lagesson -- Matt Benning
Mikko Koskinen
Mike Smith
Scratched: Patrick Russell, Caleb Jones
Injured: Joakim Nygard (hand), Kris Russell (concussion), James Neal (foot)
Status report
Hertl had surgery on his left knee Monday and the forward is expected to be ready for training camp in September. … Benson is making his NHL debut for Edmonton. … Neal participated in the morning skate but the forward will miss his fourth consecutive game.
Stat pack
Burns has two goals in his past three games. … Draisaitl has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in his past 12 games. He had an 11-game point streak end against the Coyotes on Tuesday. … Nugent-Hopkins has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 12 games.