Oilers take on Sharks

Oilers in San Jose to face struggling Sharks
The Sports Network

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267475&lid=sublink011&lpos=headlines_main

(Sports Network) - The suddenly struggling San Jose Sharks will try to halt a three-game losing streak for the second time in 10 days, as they host the Edmonton Oilers tonight at HP Pavilion.

San Jose leads the Western Conference with 83 points -- also good enough for a 20-point edge in the Pacific Division -- but losses in six of its last seven games has its edge over Detroit for the top spot in the West down to just a point.

The Sharks lost a season-high three straight from January 31-February 7, ending that skid with a big 5-2 win over Boston last Tuesday. However, San Jose has again lost three straight, including Sunday's 6-5 loss in New Jersey. The Sharks will again try to avoid their first four-game slide since dropping five straight from February 12-20 of last season.

Patrick Marleau tallied his 30th goal of the season in Sunday's loss, hitting the 30-goal mark for the third time in his career. He is now just four tallies shy of the career-best 34 he netted in 2005-06.

Rob Blake also chipped in with a goal and a helper for San Jose, which wrapped a five-game road trip with a 1-1-3 mark. Jonathan Cheechoo, Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski also lit the lamp for the Sharks, who lost for the first time in regulation when leading after two periods of play this season (24-1-3).

Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for San Jose, which was without defenseman Dan Boyle due to the flu. Boyle is questionable for tonight and has 14 goals and 28 assists this year.

San Jose begins a three-game homestand tonight and is 23-2-3 as the host club this season.

Following a stretch of four losses in five games, the Oilers have rebounded with wins in three straight contests. They haven't won four straight since beginning the 2008-09 season with four consecutive victories from October 12-18.

Edmonton was in Phoenix on Monday and left town with 3-1 victory. Dwayne Roloson stopped 28-of-29 shots faced to win his third straight start. He has yielded just five goals in that span.

Ales Hemsky notched a goal and an assist, Sheldon Souray scored on the power play and Shawn Horcoff added an empty-net goal and an assist for Edmonton.

The Oilers are perfect thus far on their four-game road trip and improved to 16-12-1 on the road with last night's win. Edmonton has won four of its last six as the road club and wraps the trip in Dallas on Thursday.

With 62 points, the Oilers are tied with Vancouver and Columbus for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference. All three teams trail fifth- seeded Dallas by one point.

Edmonton has won four of its last six versus the Sharks and has also won three straight and four its last five at San Jose.