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OILERS TODAY | Chris Wescott wraps up the game from the SAP Center
POST-GAME RAW | Lucic
POST-GAME RAW | Larsson
POST-GAME RAW | Aberg
POST-GAME RAW | Oilers head coach Todd McLellan
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The Oilers open their March schedule with a home date against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. You can see the 7 p.m. MST game on Sportsnet West or listen on 630 CHED and the Oilers Radio Network.
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The Oilers got the start they needed but not the finish as they dropped a 5-2 decision to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday to conclude their three-game California road trip and snap their three-game win streak.
Andrej Sekera got the puck in the defensive zone, chipped it to McDavid in neutral territory and the reigning League MVP kicked it into high gear, bursting across the blueline and making an intention to pass with his eyes before opting to shoot and beating Martin Jones on the far side. The visitors had themselves a lead just 4:33 into the game.
Heading into San Jose, the Oilers were owners of the NHL's second-best road penalty kill, which was on full display in the opening 20 minutes as they added two more successful shorthanded attempts to their tally.
As strong as Edmonton's opening frame was, the second period was all Sharks as they rattled off four goals from Joe Pavelski, Justin Braun, Timo Meier and Logan Couture to go up by three through 40 minutes.
"Twenty minutes lost us the game and it's unfortunate especially with the start that we had and a chance to have a great road trip," said Oilers winger Milan Lucic.
Pavelski's goal at 1:20 was the big momentum-swinger as it came just seconds after Sharks deadline acquisition Evander Kane buried Oilers blueliner Matt Benning into the end boards with what appeared to be a check from behind.
Despite the referee standing just a few feet away from the collision, he deemed no infraction occurred and San Jose's captain converted shortly thereafter for his 16th of the season.
"They scored on the play, the player that was cross-checked into the boards was unavailable to help on the play, so I would say that had something to do with it," Head Coach Todd McLellan said of the Kane-Benning encounter.
Benning returned to the Oilers bench in obvious discomfort after the hit, but after taking a few minutes to recover, he re-entered the game and was a physical presence for the remainder of the period. He even engaged with Kane following a scrum in front of the Edmonton net, with both players sent to the penalty box for roughing.
The good vibes the Oilers built in the opening frame were gone, however, as Braun's blast from the point got past Talbot at the 7:02 mark, followed by Meier and Couture tallying 1:23 apart late in the period.
The Oilers did an effective job curbing the Sharks momentum in the third, and Jesse Puljujarvi cut the deficit to 4-2 at the 6:06 mark as he converted on a perfect pass from Oilers deadline acquisition Pontus Aberg. Ryan Strome picked up the second assist on the play as he now has points in five of the last six games.
"I think it got better and better," Aberg said of his first game after getting acquired from Nashville. "It's hard when it's your first game with only a practice this morning together. It felt better and better and then connecting on that goal."
"Pontus, for his first game in and trying to figure out his new teammates, I thought they were effective in the offensive zone," McLellan said of Aberg's debut. "They can do a little bit more coming out of our end together, but our lines have been in flux, and for a new player to adapt that quickly, I thought they were effective and they scored a goal."
Edmonton pulled Talbot for the extra attacker with just over two minutes remaining but Jones held the fort between the Sharks pipes and Chris Tierney tallied an empty-netter to seal the deal.
"They were just a little quicker, a little harder than we were," McLellan said. "We figured some things out in the third, but it was a little bit too late. Full marks to San Jose for the way they played."
With their California road trip complete, the Oilers return to home ice at Rogers Place for five in a row starting Thursday against the Nashville Predators. They'll play nine of their 15 games in March at home.
