For the first time this season, the San Jose Sharks are about to get a look at one of the teams that can make life miserable in a hurry: the Edmonton Oilers.
Saturday’s matchup brings together a Sharks team that has already seen what Edmonton can do and an Oilers offense that has ripped through the opening stretch of the season. Edmonton sits second in the NHL in goals for with 22, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche, and the attack has looked every bit as dangerous as that ranking suggests.
The teams met four times last season, with Edmonton taking three of those games. San Jose’s lone win came on a Shakir Mukhamadullin game-winning goal, a funny twist considering he later joined the Oilers a few months after beating them.
There’s another layer to this one, too. Under new coach Mike Babcock, Edmonton has also given up the sixth-most goals in the league to start the year.
That isn’t exactly a shock when you look at the makeup of the blue line, which now includes three recent former Sharks: Mukhamadullin, Ty Emberson, and Jake Walman. All three were part of some of the worst defensive teams in recent seasons.
In net, Tristan Jarry is expected to get the start for Edmonton. He has been a strong matchup for San Jose in the past, posting a .917 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average in six games against the Sharks. But his overall form has been rough, and in his only appearance this season he gave up six goals on 23 shots.
Put it all together, and this one has the feel of a high-scoring game waiting to happen. Both sides should have chances, and plenty of goals may be coming.
In Other News...
Darnell Nurse Knows This Sharks Showdown Will Feel Different
Darnell Nurse has settled into San Jose, but the first meeting with Edmonton is still going to carry extra weight. The defenseman, recently acquired by the Sharks, talked this week about what it means to face his former team, a group he knows well after spending so much time around the Oilers and their people. He said the matchup will bring a different kind of feeling because of the friendships involved, even as he continues adjusting to life with his new club.
The hockey part, of course, is its own test. Nurse pointed to the need for a sharp mental approach in a divisional game that puts San Jose across from one of the leagues toughest opponents, and he made clear he is looking forward to the challenge. For the Sharks, it is another chance to measure where they stand against an old West rival, while for Nurse it will be a reminder that some nights carry more history than others. [Read more 🡒]
William Eklunds Latest Setback Puts That Sharks Trade Back Under Fire
William Eklunds latest stop in Ottawa has already taken an unwelcome turn, adding another layer to a trade the Sharks are still watching with interest. Acquired by the Senators from San Jose last June, the forward had settled in with a goal and an assist in four games this season before a game against the Flyers left his status suddenly in question.
Eklund is out for an extended period with an ankle injury, and Ottawa is still waiting on more clarity after further testing on his left ankle. For the Sharks, it is another reminder of how quickly a summer trade can be judged by everything that happens after the paperwork is signed, especially when a young players season takes a hard detour this early. [Read more 🡒]
Sharks Still Waiting On Celebrini For A Huge Oilers Matchup
Macklin Celebrinis status loomed over the Sharks preparation for a big matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, with the young center still working his way back from a lower-body injury that kept him out of the last two games. He was back on the ice in practice without restrictions and is being handled as day to day, a sign that San Jose at least has reason to be hopeful as it weighs how quickly to bring him back into the lineup.
Celebrini sounded encouraged about the possibility of returning, but he also stressed the need to follow medical advice rather than rush the process. The final call will be a collective one involving the Sharks doctors, trainers and medical staff, which leaves one of the teams most important availability questions hanging right up until puck drop. [Read more 🡒]