Sharks slip past Oilers 5-4 in shootout

J-F Jacques backhands a shot on Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov during the first period. (photo: Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers)

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PRE-GAME

Preview Game Notes Head-to-Head Stats Comparison Game Program Video interviews Audio Interviews

PHOTOS

Click here for the photo gallery

VIDEO

Watch tonight's post-game video highlights. Oilers post-game with Potulny, Brule, McDonald, Penner and Pat Quinn. Sharks post-game with Heatley, Marleau, Thornton and head coach Todd McLellan

AUDIO

Tonight's Audio Highlights Pat Quinn Gilbert Brule Dustin Penner Ryan Potulny Colin McDonald.

SHOOTOUT RESULTS

Edmonton: O'Sullivan - Missed Gagner - Missed Penner - Saved San Jose: Marleau - Missed Pavelski - GOAL

THREE STARS

Patrick Marleau, SJ Ryan Potulny, EDM Joe Thornton, SJ

UPDATE

The Oilers are tied for 12th in the Western Conference, 5 points behind the 8th place Phoenix Coyotes.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edmonton heads on the road for a quick meeting vs. the Canucks in Vancouver Saturday, November 28th. The game starts at 8:00pm MST and will be broadcast on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

by Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

Reeling from the loss of star forward Ales Hemsky due to shoulder surgery, the Oilers were faced with a formidable foe -- the Sharks -- Friday night at Rexall Place. But thanks in large part to rookie Ryan Potulny and goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, Edmonton kept San Jose on its toes and thrilled fans with an exciting back-and-forth game that stretched past 60 minutes.

In the end, Joe Pavelski scored the lone shootout goal, sealing a 5-4 win for the Sharks.

FIRST PERIOD

No one was expecting a warm welcome for Oiler-rejector Dany Heatley, so it was no surprise when the boos and "Heatley sucks" chants filled the building before opening puck drop. But three minutes into the game, fans took a break from the hexing to cheer on Jean-Francois Jacques, who dropped his gloves vs. San Jose's Frazer McLaren in front of Evgeni Nabokov's net.

Fighting majors to both players, plus a roughing minor to Jacques and hooking minor to Ryane Clowe, kept both clubs on even terms.

Near the five minute mark, Oilers fans erupted when Steve Staios hit Heatley near the home bench. Unfortunately, the crowd was silenced mid cheer when Patrick Marleau snapped the puck past Jeff Deslauriers, giving the Sharks the first lead of the game.

Shortly after the goal, Oilers blueliner Sheldon Souray was called for cross-checking and the Sharks got the chance to increase their lead on the powerplay. But Deslauriers stood strong in net, stopping three shots to keep his club within one.

With 5:39 left on the clock, the Oilers got the chance to test their powerplay prowess when surging Sam Gagner drew a holding penalty from Jason Demers. The man-advantage was diffused by fierce penalty killing, however, and Edmonton was unable to tie things up despite owning a narrow shot lead.

In the period's dying seconds, Ryan Potulny pushed through two Sharks near the penalty boxes, triggering a pile-up of blue and white jerseys. Roughing minors to Potulny and Jed Ortmeyer ensured both teams would start the middle frame with four skaters.

SECOND PERIOD

Four-on-four gave the Sharks the room they needed to regain the shot lead, but even without a stick, Deslauriers effectively kept an early second-period goal off the clock. By the game's midway point, the Sharks were up 18-12 on the shot clock and continued to carry a slim 1-0 lead.

One minute later, Potulny erased it completely. On a face-off, the Oilers forward snagged the puck, broke in on Nabokov, and backhanded a five-hole goal to get the Oilers on the board and tie the game at one.

Hooking minors to both sides put special teams in the hot seat later in the period, but the go-ahead goal remained elusive and Edmonton headed to the third period tied 1-1 but trailing 17 shots to 21.

THIRD PERIOD

The Oilers tallied the first two shots of the third period and, two minutes in, took their first lead of the game. Although Nabokov made a solid pad save on Gilbert Brule's initial attempt, the rebound flew out to linemate Dustin Penner, who lifted the puck into the open net to put the Oil up 2-1.

Two minutes after that, the forwards switched roles to make it 3-1. Penner swept behind the net and fed the puck to Brule out front, who one-timed it past Nabokov, doubling Edmonton's lead.

The goals kept coming, but this time in San Jose's favour. Near the six-minute mark, Marleau got his second of  the game by tipping Joe Thornton's shot past Deslauriers, setting the score 3-2.

Then at 8:26 and with an Oilers delayed penalty, Clowe spun around and tucked the puck inside the post to put both clubs back on even terms.

Edmonton was looking for revenge after losing their lead, and they what they were looking for from Potulny. From the middle of the left face-off circle, the rookie snapped home his second of the game to give the Oil a 4-3 lead.

A late penalty to Kent Huskins seemed to seal the win for the Oilers, but the Sharks accomplished the unthinkable: with 86 seconds left in regulation, Marleau scored shorthanded to secure a hat-trick and force overtime.

OVERTIME

Midway through the extra frame, Souray took a high-sticking minor and the Oilers were forced to ice three men against four. But only 19 seconds into San Jose's man-advantage, Joe Pavelski tripped up Staios and three-on-three began.

The wide-open ice encouraged plenty of end-to-end rushes, but sudden death expired before the lamp was lit.

SHOOTOUT