GAME STORY: Sharks 3, Oilers 2 (OT)

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POST-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
WHAT'S NEXT
The Oilers head into the Christmas break before playing the L.A. Kings six days from now on Thursday, December 29. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. MST.
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"We were never in that game," McLellan exclaimed. "They were better in every facet you could think of in the game. I don't think we clawed our way back in. We got lucky and came away with a point.
"A disappointing performance from an awful lot of individuals tonight, so we'll steal the point and get home. We've obviously got to get better if we want to play against these types of teams."
After a scoreless first period, San Jose connected on the power play only 31 seconds into the middle frame to take a 1-0 lead. Joe Pavelski one-timed a blast from the left circle past Talbot.
The game stayed that way until just past six minutes into the third. Connor McDavid danced into the Sharks zone then banked a shot in off Justin Braun who was defending in front to tie the game.
San Jose moved back in front two minutes later. Kevin Labanc one-timed a feed from Logan Couture past Talbot to take a 2-1 lead.
However, that lead was shortlived. 24 seconds later, Patrick Maroon teed up a wrist shot from the right circle and flicked it by Martin Jones to knot the game at 2-2.
"They battled hard and played a tough game. We did a good job of finding a way to get a point but shot ourselves in the foot too many times," stated the Oilers captain.
After regulation, shots were 30-18 for San Jose but the game was tied 2-2.
With the point for the loss, the Oilers move into second in the Pacific Division. That's an achievement that shouldn't be taken lightly, McDavid said after the game.
"We're in a good spot," he said, when asked to assess the season's first 36 games. "If you told us at the beginning of the year that we'd be sitting in second place in the Pacific Division down by one point I think everyone would take it. There's a lot of positives to take from our first half and it's time to enjoy a nice break and get re-energized and re-focused, come back and be ready to go."
Asked the same question, Coach McLellan wasn't quite as positive with the disappointment in the loss still fresh but acknowledged the gains made by the club.
"That's a tough question to answer right now," McLellan said. "When you're emotional you're a little bit bitter the way your group has played. You take that out of the equation, we've made progress and we've improved in a lot of different areas. Tonight was evidence that we still have a lot more to do. We've got to improve in discipline and our penalty kill, power play has to get better. Five-on-five we've got to find ways to improve our game as well.
"I said it I think after game 15 that we're a growth team and I still think we're a growth team."