Sharks Lose in OT 2-1 After Unpopular Coaching Decision

The San Jose Sharks “welcome” Evander Kane and the Edmonton Oilers back to SAP Center after their Valentine’s Day date. Tomas Hertl got the Sharks off to a solid start with a game-opening power play strike, but San Jose couldn’t hold the slim lead late, as Edmonton pulled out the 2-1 OT win.

Period 1

Evander Kane gets a lusty boo when his name is announced in the starting line-up — assume he'll still get booed every time he touches the puck. Do see a decent amount of Oilers orange in this sparse crowd tonight

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 6, 2022

3 in: On one hand, Vlasic makes an ugly pass up the middle that Edmonton picks off. But Vlasic does hustle hard from D to D, recovers on Foegele.

4 in: Nice job by Burns to wall off Hyman in one-on-one battle for puck behind Reimer. Oilers on PP. People criticize Burns a lot for not being more physical and he could accumulate more hits, for sure, but in terms of being physical in wall battles and things like that, he’s still one of the best on the San Jose Sharks, if not the best.

9 in: Hyman almost eats up Karlsson with the chip and chase but Ferraro recovers for his partner.

10 in: Fun little long-distance give-and-go between Meier and Merkley.

9 left: Karlsson much better defending when he’s skating forward. Case in point, Hyman there. Karlsson misses surf, but he’s able to catch Hyman from side. As opposed to earlier, when Karlsson looked bad skating backwards, as he often does.

8 left: Not a good play by Merkley. Slows it down, two Oilers passively taking away his stretch options, and he tries to force a pass through to Balcers blowing the zone. Turnover, Vlasic there to at least make sure it’s not a 2-on-0.

6 left: Leonard turnaround shot. I’ve seen from pop from him. Earlier, kept Kulak from taking the puck one on one.

Then on PP, I liked Karlsson’s pick on Ryan in corner. Helped keep puck alive, along with Burns hustle on attempted Oilers rim. All leads to Hertl one-timer. Good puck movement by the San Jose Sharks.

2 left: Tough pass up the middle by Megna. Lucky it didn’t lead to anything.

1 left: Chmelevski’s lack of foot speed painfully obvious as two Oilers converge on him in the NZ — but he manages to survive it and hit Meier for a partial breakaway. If he can keep doing that?

Might’ve been the first good period that the San Jose Sharks have played against Edmonton this year. SJS 4-2 Slot Shots at ES.

Period 2

Leonard goes down in a heap blocking a shot, but able to skate off under his own power — goes straight down tunnel though

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 6, 2022

4 in: What a pass by Karlsson, hitch, then to Meier in slot. He looks a bit more engaged tonight.

5 in: Watching a lot of Sasha tonight. Time and space in corner, Nugent-Hopkins on top of him. Doesn’t do much. Gets an aimless-looking puck toward Smith.

8 in: Merkley gets forechecker McLeod to blow a tire, crowd cheers. Doesn’t lead to much, but fun stuff.

8 left: Gregor up high does nice job evading Oilers pursuit. Turnover there could’ve been killer.

7 left: There’s a spot where Meier should’ve pulled the trigger? 2-on-1 with Balcers.

6 left: I think Gregor will have those times though, fall too much in love with speed, skate through everybody. Instead of dump-in, he challenges 3 Oilers in NZ, turnover.

5 left: Looks ugly, but San Jose Sharks did a good job of defending McDavid and company there. Sticks in lanes, made life hard on McDavid.

4 left: Barabanov nifty in NZ to curl and make space for incoming Meier.

3 left: Merkley pulls 3 Oilers toward him down low, hits Meier (I think) in slot. Beaut play. But then Chmelevski along wall can’t keep it alive. After an A-game against Dallas, frankly a C so far tonight.

But then Sasha makes a nice play off Couture faceoff win to bounce pass it back to point.

McDavid gives Burns a couple pushes after Burns slashes him. Love to see that fight haha. Think Burns has actually defended McDavid fairly well tonight, within team structure.

Period 3

Leonard done for night.

Balcers post: Strong drive there from Balcers. More of that from a guy who has a decent size/speed combo.

9 in: Karlsson looked like he ran into ref along wall, puck he was pinching on got out. He lingered, looking back at ref.

9 left: Aimless PP entry work by Burns, Karlsson, and Meier. Have to be better. That leads to RNH shortie. Disappointing. RNH also did great job to beat Ferraro to Oilers dump, created the odd-man.

2 left: San Jose Sharks have a couple great chances off Kane turnover. Crowd would’ve loved that.

And then Meier pickpocketed Nurse in front of Smith. Whoa.

OT

Nieto-Couture-Burns to start? Guess for defensive reasons, but not my choice.

Boughner on starting Couture-Nieto-Burns in OT: "You can nullify him, give yourself a chance to win, right? We got Tommy [& Meier] coming next. Barabanov & Gregor..Just trying to put some defensive guys against McDavid.

"By way, we had a great chance. Smith made a great play."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 6, 2022

Then Smith makes an alert play to get it up to McDavid for breakaway.