Oilers 3, Sharks 2 (SO)
OILERS 3, SHARKS 2 (SO): Sam Gagner scored the lone goal of the shootout as Edmonton halted a three-game losing streak with a triumph over host San Jose.
All-Star Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth tallied in regulation and Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves for the Oilers, who have won four of five on the road.
After Eberle hit the left post on Edmonton's first shootout attempt, Gagner beat Antti Niemi to the glove side with a wrist shot in the second round. Dubnyk, who had denied Joe Pavelski and Michal Handzus, stopped defenseman Brent Burns to seal the victory.
It took Edmonton only 10 seconds to grab the lead as Eberle took advantage of a turnover to score his 30th goal of the season.
Gagner deflected a pass by defenseman Ryan Whitney into the Sharks' zone, and San Jose blueliner Dan Boyle was unable to control the puck in the slot. Eberle gained possession at the right hash marks and batted the puck out of the air and past Niemi for a 1-0 advantage.
The goal was two seconds shy of the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who scored eight seconds into Edmonton's contest against the New York Rangers on Dec. 14, 1983.
Former Oilers defenseman Jim Vandermeer knotted the game 3:07 later, beating Dubnyk with a slap shot from above the left faceoff circle for his first tally in 24 matches this season and 41 overall.
The Sharks went ahead with 4:41 remaining in the second on Ryane Clowe's 12th of the campaign. After Dubnyk misplayed the puck near the right post, All-Star Logan Couture dished it to Clowe for a tap-in from the bottom of the slot.
Clowe has scored twice in his last four contests following a 12-game drought.
Edmonton answered 54 seconds later when Smyth deflected defenseman Jeff Petry's one-timer from the top of the left circle past Niemi. It was Smyth's second goal in 19 games and first against a team other than Calgary since Jan. 2 versus Chicago.
The game was penalty-free until Sharks defenseman Justin Braun fired the puck over the glass at 6:05 of the third period for a delay-of-game infraction. Edmonton's top-ranked power play was in business for only 56 seconds as captain Shawn Horcoff was called for tripping, and San Jose was given a two-man advantage for 41 seconds when Ryan Jones was whistled for high-sticking at 8:20.
Niemi stopped 24 shots for the Sharks, who completed a 1-2-1 homestand with their ninth loss in 11 overall games. San Jose pulled even in points with Los Angeles and Colorado (74), one behind Phoenix for seventh in the Western Conference.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Sharks coach Todd McLellan returned to duty after missing three games with a concussion. Ironically, Edmonton coach Tom Renney also missed time this season with a concussion. ... Smyth has scored 12 of his 18 goals this campaign on the road. ... Patrick Marleau played in his 1,100th career game, all with the Sharks. ... San Jose has lost seven straight against teams from the West.