Oilers at Sharks
THE STORY: The San
Jose Sharks' homestand has not gone exactly as planned. They attempt to
conclude it with a victory - and a hold on a playoff spot in the Western
Conference - when they face off against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
San Jose has gone 1-2-0 on its four-game homestand while scoring two
goals. The struggling Sharks, who have lost three of five at home and
eight of 10 overall, begin the day one point ahead of Los Angeles and
Colorado for eighth place in the West. Edmonton, which has lost three in
a row overall, had its three-game road winning streak snapped Monday at
Anaheim.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet (Oilers), CS California (Sharks)
ABOUT THE OILERS (25-34-6):
Linus Omark was recalled from Oklahoma City of the American Hockey
League on Monday but did not play in Edmonton's loss to the Ducks. Omark
appeared in five contests in October, registering two penalty minutes
and a minus-2 rating. The Oilers' top-ranked power play received only
one opportunity Monday but cashed in as All-Star Jordan Eberle scored
his team-high 29th goal. It was Eberle's ninth power-play tally, putting
him three behind Taylor Hall for the club lead.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (33-24-7):
Martin Havlat, who has not played since Dec. 17 because of a torn
hamstring, has been practicing with the team and is hoping to return to
the lineup soon. The right wing is expected to accompany San Jose on its
four-game road trip that begins Thursday in Dallas. Havlat has recorded
two goals and 13 assists in 26 games during his first season with the
Sharks. Coach Todd McLellan will be back behind the bench Tuesday after
missing three contests with concussion-like symptoms. McLellan was
injured during a loss at Minnesota on Feb. 26 when he was accidentally
struck in the head with the stick of a member of the Wild.
OVERTIME:
1. Edmonton has lost five of its last six visits to San Jose.
2.
The Sharks have dropped six straight games against Western Conference
opponents and four of five meetings with Northwest Division teams.