Leon Draisaitl scores twice, Oilers top Sharks

Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of targets to guide the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday evening.

Kailer Yamamoto, Derick Brassard and Evander Kane additionally scored for the Oilers, who had misplaced their final two video games however improved to 6-1-1 of their final eight total.

“Each level issues at the moment of the yr,” Oilers ahead Zach Hyman stated. “I assumed it was superior to get the win and to maintain constructing confidence shifting ahead.”

Mike Smith made 28 saves within the victory.

“We’ve executed a variety of issues right here in the previous few weeks which have given this crew a variety of confidence,” Smith stated. “We really feel like we will play with anyone on this league.”

Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks, whose two-game profitable streak ended. Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 36 photographs.

“Not the outcome we needed, clearly,” Kahkonen stated. “Good just isn’t ok on this league. I want I may have made one or two extra saves right here, hold it a little bit nearer. However total I felt wonderful. The fellows have been nice.”

The Sharks acquired on the scoreboard first 68 seconds into the second interval when Karlsson shot right into a wide-open web with Smith sprawled on the ice.

Edmonton tied it 5 minutes into the second on the ability play as Yamamoto drove to the online and despatched a backhand shot by way of Kahkonen’s legs for this 18th of the season and seventh purpose within the final eight video games.

Three minutes later, Zack Kassian knocked a defender off the puck alongside the boards and it popped out to Draisaitl, who scored his forty third purpose.

The groups traded targets seven minutes into the third interval.

Brassard acquired his first purpose with the Oilers when he despatched a puck on web and it ticked off of Karlsson’s skate and in. San Jose responded simply 29 seconds later when Hertl was given some house within the slot and he put the puck into the highest nook for his twenty sixth.

Edmonton took a two-goal lead with simply over six minutes left as Connor McDavid made an ideal feed to Draisaitl on the ability play for his second of the sport.

The Oilers put the sport away on an empty-netter from Kane.

“I really feel just like the final two or three weeks, we’ve actually acquired some traction right here,” Smith stated. “We’ve performed some good hockey towards some good hockey groups. I really feel assured that issues are trending in the suitable route on the proper time of yr.”

NOTES: Sharks F Logan Couture was injured when he acquired hit by a degree shot from his personal participant and didn’t return. … Edmonton had a totally wholesome lineup for one of many first instances this season as F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returned after lacking 12 video games with an upper-body damage. The Oilers additionally welcomed two gamers they acquired on the commerce deadline: D Brett Kulak and Brassard. … Kahkonen, San Jose’s deadline day addition, made his first begin with San Jose after coming over from the Minnesota Wild. … Out with accidents for the Sharks had been Adin Hill (decrease physique), Mario Ferraro (decrease physique), Kevin Labanc (higher physique) and Matt Nieto (undisclosed).

UP NEXT

Sharks: Host Anaheim on Saturday evening.

Oilers: At Calgary on Saturday evening.