Game Preview: Oilers At Sharks
By JACK CASSIDY
STATS Writer
Sam Jose has made the most of a long stay at the Shark Tank.
Looking to continue their winning ways, the Sharks wrap up their longest homestand of the season Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
The Sharks (27-17-6) had lost three straight at the SAP Center before beginning a stretch of seven straight at home in the middle of January. San Jose has gone 4-1-1 so far, including wins against a pair of the Western Conference's best teams in its last two.
The Sharks returned from the All-Star break with a 6-3 win over NHL-best Anaheim on Thursday, then beat Chicago 2-0 on Saturday behind 31 saves from Antti Niemi.
"He played awesome," Brent Burns said. "He's real sturdy back there. We feel good when he's there. We know he's there to back us up if they get a good chance, and he showed it tonight."
Niemi has a 2.51 goals-against average this season, but has returned to top form recently. He has posted a 1.67 GAA over the Sharks' current three-game win streak, and is 5-0-1 in his last six starts.
The Sharks' offensive stars have also been hot of late. Joe Thornton has five points over the last three games, and Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski have two goals apiece over the three wins.
"We believe we're a good hockey team," Burns told the Sharks' official website. "It's just a matter of winning, that's all it comes down to, getting points. I think throughout the year we've had some good winning streaks. It's just about putting points in the bank every night."
After losing 14 times through the season's first 24 games, San Jose has posted a 17-7-2 record - tied for the third-most wins in the NHL since Nov. 29.
Edmonton (13-28-9) has supplied two of the Sharks' victories in that time. After winning at home on Dec. 7, the Oilers fell in San Jose two days later and also lost at the Shark Tank on Dec. 18.
They have lost their last five road contests with the Sharks and 13 of the last 14 dating back to 2008.
Edmonton, 4-13-7 away from home this season, hasn't won a road game in regulation since Nov. 9, but it won back-to-back away contests in shootouts and seemed to be on the cusp of breaking its regulation skid Saturday in Calgary. But the Oilers allowed four third-period goals in a 4-2 loss.
"We stopped playing simple," goaltender Ben Scrivens told the Oilers' official website. "You've got to give Calgary credit. They lead the league in third-period comebacks and we just added to their total by not being ready to play in the third. I don't know how many times we have to go through it before we learn our lesson."
Scrivens made 29 saves but upped his GAA to 3.05, which ranks among the worst in the league. Backup Viktor Fasth has been even less effective, posting a 3.29 GAA in 19 appearances.
Jordan Eberle scored his team-leading 13th goal Saturday, and has 18 points in 18 career meetings - including a seven-game point streak - against the Sharks.
Pavelski has five goals and three assists in his last five against Edmonton.