Edmonton Oilers Establish Readiness with Sharks Victory

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks in an outstanding performance Thursday, taking a 3-2 victory. They moved to second in the Pacific Division and proved their readiness as the postseason looms.

Thursday’s victory proved important, especially considering the Oilers’ first-round opponent could very well be San Jose. The Oilers displayed plenty of positives and showed their potential as a contender come playoff time. Here’s everything to take away from the win.

Edmonton Oilers

– Cam Talbot was outstanding between the pipes. He made 38 of 40 saves, and held the Sharks scoreless through the second period and most of the third. He put up a brick wall, and has rebounded since his two-game struggle. Going into this playoff time, Talbot has shown he can carry the team in critical matchups.

– Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl added yet another game to their point streaks. McDavid passed the 90-point mark, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Draisaitl finished with a helper. Overall, they put up a great game and did plenty to ensure a victory; McDavid’s shorthanded goal (the first of his career) was the true turning point.

– Patrick Maroon scored two goals and now has 27 on the season. He has proven to be a vital left winger and carries plenty of importance on the team. He has great chemistry with the top line, and has displayed tremendous speed and push for the puck.

– The defence was excellent tonight, holding the Sharks to just two goals. They could have done better with giving San Jose less time in the offensive zone, but overall, they held the Sharks scoreless on two power-play attempts.

– Edmonton dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 58 percent of the draws for the night. However, they couldn’t do much with their power play, and went 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

There are plenty of takeaways, but the most important one is that the Oilers are ready to try their hand at the first postseason in 10 seasons.