SAN JOSE, Calif. — Tomas Hertl scored a objective and arrange one other to assist the San Jose Sharks win their second straight sport following 11 consecutive losses to open the season, 3-2 over the slumping Edmonton Oilers on Thursday evening.
“It was by far the best game of the year,” Hertl stated. “I think everybody played really well. It wasn’t just one guy. … I’m really proud of the group after two tough losses.”
In a matchup of the NHL’s two worst groups up to now this season, it was Connor McDavid and the Oilers who ended up on the dropping finish regardless of having 49 extra shot makes an attempt than San Jose.
“I don’t really know what to say,” ahead Leon Draisaitl stated. “We tend to outshoot other teams consistently, probably out-chance other teams consistently. We’re not in sync right now.”
Hertl assisted on Fabian Zetterlund’s objective that opened the scoring within the first interval after which took benefit of a lucky bounce to attain halfway via the second interval.
Filip Zadina additionally scored for San Jose, which ended an an eight-game dropping streak in opposition to the Oilers.
PHOTOS: Sharks win their 2nd straight sport, beating slumping Oilers 3-2
Mackenzie Blackwood made 39 saves, developing huge on an Edmonton power-play late within the sport after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with the goalie pulled with 2:26 to play.
San Jose has held its final two opponents to 1 objective after giving up 10 in back-to-back losses.
“It feels good to back up what we did the other night, and even better,” coach David Quinn stated.
Darnell Nurse additionally scored for the Oilers.
McDavid, who led the NHL with 64 targets final season, has no targets in his final seven video games. The Oilers have misplaced 4 straight and have one win of their final 9 contests. Their 5 factors are tied with the 1993-94 staff for the fewest via 12 video games in franchise historical past and tied with San Jose for the fewest this season.
“We can’t really be looking at the standings right now,” Nugent-Hopkins stated. “We got to look within ourselves and not worry about the rest of what’s going on around us.”
Stuart Skinner made 15 saves for Edmonton within the first sport for the reason that Oilers despatched high-priced goalie Jack Campbell to the AHL in what coach Jay Woodcroft described as a “message” to his struggling staff.
Woodcroft stated after the transfer that he anticipated the Oilers to play their finest sport of the season however that didn’t materialize. Woodcroft stated he wasn’t frightened about his job safety
“I worry about taking care of my daily business and my daily process and making sure that I give my players something to focus on and concentrate on,” he stated. “No one’s happy with where we’re at. We all own it. We can be better and that’s where my focus is.”
The Sharks responded late within the interval when Nikita Okhtiuk’s move deflected off Zetterlund to an open Hertl within the slot. Hertl beat Skinner for his second objective of the season.
Zadina added an insurance coverage objective early within the third when he scored on a 2-on-1 rush off a move from Nico Sturm.
That was sufficient to provide the Sharks their second win of the season after tying a file with 11 straight losses – together with one in a shootout – to open the season.
UP NEXT
Oilers: At Seattle on Saturday evening.
Sharks: At Vegas on Friday evening.
