National Hockey League
Edmonton 6, San Jose 3
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, March 24, 2016
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, Mike Leggo
Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Derek Nansen
Attendance: 16570

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks were sitting pretty with a 2-0 lead after one period. Unfortunately for them, the Edmonton Oilers didn't stop playing.

The Oilers stormed back with six unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes to beat the Sharks 6-3 in front of 16,570 fans at SAP Center.

"I think we all knew after the first that we weren't playing very good," Edmonton defenseman Adam Clendening said. "(Coach) Todd (McLellan) kind of gave it to us a bit during the first intermission."

The mood was understandably one of blunt frustration in the opposite locker room.

"When we get that 2-0 lead, it's got to be game over," Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said.

The Sharks failed to clinch a playoff spot for a second straight game, and they failed to take advantage of the fact Los Angeles lost and Anaheim earned only one point during an overtime loss. San Jose remains in third place in the Pacific. San Jose remains in third place in the Pacific Division, two points behind the Ducks and five back of the first-place Kings.

"We're still within range," Sharks goalie James Reimer said. "We'll keep doing our best to win games, get points and whatever happens when playoffs come we'll make the most of it."

Roman Polak's blast from the right point was redirected by Tommy Wingels past Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot at 3:47 of the first period for a 1-0 Sharks advantage. Wingels' seventh goal of the season was his first point in four games since returning from an injury that kept him out 14 games.

San Jose converted its first power-play chance just past the midway point of the period, taking advantage of an after-the-whistle unsportsmanlike minor on Edmonton forward Zack Kassian.

Pavelski one-timed a feed from Joe Thornton for his 35th goal of the season at 11:41 as San Jose's top power-play unit emerged from a recent dry spell to give it a 2-0 advantage.

But the Oilers blitzed the Sharks in the second period, scoring four goals on nine shots to take a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.

"They came out strong the final 40 minutes and found a way to get some goals," Reimer said.

The Edmonton rally started at 1:39 when Lauri Korpikoski scored his 10th of the season by reaching as far as he could to redirect a point shot past San Jose goalie James Reimer to pull within 2-1.

Sharks' forward Patrick Marleau coughed up the puck along the boards and Taylor Hall fired high and off Reimer's left shoulder for his 24th goal to tie it 2-2 at 8:18.

Edmonton made it two goals in 45 seconds when Clendening's wrist shot found a way through an inadvertent screen by Wingels and Clendening's first goal of the season came at 9:03 to make it 3-2.

The Sharks briefly tied the game again when Marleau atoned for his turnover with a power-play strike at 12:26. Marleau's 21st goal enabled Thornton to pull even with Mark Recchi in 14th place on the all-time assist list with his 956th career helper.

But Edmonton struck one last time as Patrick Maroon capped a 2-on-1 break by one-timing a Connor McDavid pass through defenseman Brent Burns past Reimer to make it 4-3 at 18:04. Maroon's seventh goal came on a delayed penalty as San Jose's Joel Ward had interfered with Talbot.

"In the second and third we kept the game simple, played them on the open ice and we established a forecheck," Clendening said.

Jordan Eberle scored his 24th goal at 12:54 of the third period to give the visitors insurance, and Hall filled an empty net with 5.8 seconds left for his second goal of the game to cap the scoring.

"We kind of got our butts in gear after the first period and started to play hockey again," Hall said. "We have to play every game and not wait until the second period."

And adding injury to insult, the Sharks played the final 33 minutes without rookie forward Joonas Donskoi.

"Puck possession time, we missed that," Pavelski said. "But we have more than enough guys who can step in, play a role and get the job done. It's not an excuse. He's a big player for us, but we've got to do better."

NOTES: Edmonton rookie C Connor McDavid extended his point streak to eight games with one assist. ... The Sharks were 7-0-2 at home vs. the Oilers since Jan. 13, 2011. ... Edmonton C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sustained a concussion on Tuesday against Arizona and may miss the Oilers' remaining five games, according to coach Todd McLellan. "He's got a minor concussion and we're going to treat it with kid gloves at this point, where we are in the standings and the time of year," McLellan said. ... LW Micheal Haley was promoted from AHL affiliate San Jose. ... The Oilers conclude a three-game road trip on Saturday at Los Angeles. ... The Sharks next host the Dallas Stars on Saturday. ... D Adam Pardy, RW Adam Cracknell, C Anton Lander and D Nikita Nikitin did not dress for Edmonton while C Dainius Zubrus was San Jose's lone healthy scratch.
Top Game Performances
 
Edmonton   San Jose
Patrick Maroon 3 Points Joe Thornton 2
Taylor Hall 2 Goals Patrick Marleau 1
Patrick Maroon 2 Assists Joe Thornton 2
N/A Power Play Goals Patrick Marleau 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Cam Talbot .885 Save Percentage James Reimer .762
Cam Talbot 23 Saves James Reimer 16
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Edmonton 22 6 0-1 2-4 33 26
San Jose 26 3 2-4 1-1 7 32
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Sharks have a W/L % of .512 after a win and .606 after a loss.
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Oilers have a W/L % of .448 after a win and .354 after a loss.