San Jose Sharks’ protection will get offensive in loss to Edmonton Oilers

SAN JOSE – Getting some level manufacturing from their protection corps will little doubt profit the San Jose Sharks as they attempt to end what’s left of this season on a optimistic notice.

That and a few strong goaltending gave the Sharks an opportunity to beat the playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night time.

Mario Ferraro had two assists and Jack Thompson scored his fourth aim of the season, however a second-period aim by Jeff Skinner was the distinction because the Oilers handed the Sharks a 3-2 loss earlier than an introduced crowd of 14,152 at SAP Middle.

On the play, a faceoff within the Sharks’ zone bought again to Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, whose unblocked shot towards the online was redirected by Skinner’s skate previous San Jose goalie Georgi Romanov on the 14:57 mark of the second interval.

“We lose coverage on the back side with our defenseman not boxing out,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky mentioned. “Then a young player in Cam (Lund) just doesn’t get out there quick enough and extend his stick. It’s a detail that you probably get away with in college, but not at this level. So it’s something he’ll learn from.”

Romanov completed with 35 saves, and Tyler Toffoli scored his twenty eighth aim of the season, however the Sharks (20-45-10), regardless of a greater general efficiency than current lopsided outcomes towards the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, misplaced their fourth straight recreation.

The San Jose Sharks rejoice a aim scored by San Jose Sharks’ Jack Thompson (26) towards the Edmonton Oilers throughout the first interval on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, April 3, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)

“Pretty good effort. We would like to get one there in the third. We had a lot of chances,” Ferraro mentioned. “For the most part, we were pretty on top of them. Just couldn’t find a way to get that extra one to tie it up late.”

Connor Brown and Victor Arvidsson additionally scored for the Oilers, who performed the second half of the sport with out the NHL’s main scorer, Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers middle, who has 52 objectives this season, left the sport within the second interval with a lower-body damage.

Within the 11 video games since they traded defenseman Jake Walman, the Sharks have solely managed three objectives and 12 assists from their defensemen. However towards the Oilers, the Sharks’ blue line appeared to activate a bit of extra to create some odd-man alternatives.

That was the case on Toffoli’s aim on the 8:48 mark of the second interval. Ferraro joined the push and took a go from Macklin Celebrini on a 3-on-2 and located Toffoli, who tied the sport 2-2.

“Every team wants to get some production off the back side,” Warsofsky mentioned. “It’s important that we get guys up in the rush a little bit more, so it’s not just a three-man rush. If you look at rush teams that have a lot of offenses, it’s coming from the back with a fourth wave, and that’s something that we’ve got to continue to work on.”

Thompson was recalled from the Barracuda on Monday after defenseman Luca Cagnoni and ahead Patrick Giles have been returned to the AHL. The Sharks additionally misplaced defenseman Vincent Desharnais to an upper-body damage late final week.

Edmonton Oilers’ Jake Walman (96) skates on the ice earlier than a recreation towards the San Jose Sharks throughout warmups on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, April 3, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)

Warsofsky mentioned younger offensive defensemen generally tend to play a bit too conservatively once they get to the NHL, as a substitute of enjoying to their strengths.

Thompson, who spent most of March within the AHL and had 5 factors in his final 4 video games with the Barracuda, tried to heed that recommendation.

“I’m definitely trying to learn that, and trying to continue to grow that side when I’m up here, is to make plays and not feel nervous to make a mistake,” Thompson mentioned. “I’m trying to learn still, but I think (Thursday was) a step in the right direction.”

MUKHAMADULLIN OUT: Shakir Mukhamadullin didn’t play Thursday, and it stays unclear whether or not the injured Sharks rookie defenseman will be capable to return this season.

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky mentioned Thursday that Mukhamadullin was nonetheless being evaluated after he sustained an upper-body damage early within the third interval of the group’s recreation towards the Anaheim Geese on Tuesday.

It’s unclear if Mukhamadullin will be capable to return this season. The Sharks, already formally eradicated from playoff rivalry, now have simply seven video games remaining with their final recreation on April 16 at dwelling, additionally towards Edmonton.

Early within the third interval of Tuesday’s recreation at Honda Middle, Mukhamadullin collided with Troy Terry within the impartial zone, pulling down the Geese ahead. Mukhamadullin was met by Anaheim winger Frank Vatrano, who dropped his stick, threw his gloves down, grabbed the Sharks blueliner, and dragged him to the ice.

San Jose Sharks’ Jack Thompson (26) celebrates scoring a aim towards the Edmonton Oilers throughout the first interval on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, April 3, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)

With Muhamadullin unavailable, left-shot defenseman Henry Thrun returned to the Sharks’ lineup for the primary time since March 8 when he re-aggravated an upper-body damage in a recreation towards the New York Islanders. Thrun, who has missed 13 of the final 14 video games, has been skating just lately however didn’t undergo a full-contact Sharks follow earlier than Thursday.

GEORGIEV HURT: Sharks beginning goalie Alexandar Georgiev has an upper-body damage and didn’t play towards the Oilers. The damage, although, will not be thought of severe, as Georgiev skated Thursday morning. Georgi Romanov began towards the Oilers, and Gabriel Carriere, recalled from the Barracuda on Thursday, backed him up.

Yaroslav Askarov, who re-aggravated a lower-body damage earlier than Wednesday’s Barracuda recreation towards Ontario and didn’t play, traveled with the group to Colorado and is obtainable to play with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate on Friday and Saturday. Askarov hasn’t performed since Feb. 19 when he first sustained the damage.

HOMECOMING: Thursday marked Walman and Ty Emberson’s first recreation again in San Jose since being traded by the Sharks. Walman was despatched to Edmonton simply earlier than the commerce deadline final month for a conditional 2026 first-round decide, and Emberson went to the Oilers final summer season within the deal that introduced defenseman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round decide to San Jose.