The Sharks entered Saturday’s game in Edmonton with a less-than-admirable record in afternoon starts on the season. They were winless before they squared off with the Oilers.
But San Jose boosted that record by getting a notch in a win column. Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson tallied two goals apiece on the evening, and Erik Karlsson made a triumphant return to the ice in San Jose’s 7-4 victory.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE Here are three takeaways from the Saturday matinee:
Welcome back, EK65
Karlsson wasted no time getting back to work in his return from a two-game suspension. Any concern the defenseman would’ve lost momentum after sitting for two games disappeared almost immediately when he set up Joonas Donskoi’s first-period goal with a seamless cross-ice pass.
Karlsson was a big part of San Jose’s push after that first goal, setting up another goal later in the frame and then scoring one of his own in the second stanza to give the Sharks a nice, cushion-y 4-1 lead. The two-time Norris Trophy winner finished the night with a plus-5 rating and led the team with eight shot attempts.
San Jose Sharks
Find the latest San Jose Sharks news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Heck, how many other players can do that in their first game back from a layoff?
The new lines are gelling
In the Sharks' win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, the trio of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, and Marcus Sorensen led the charge. On Saturday, the chemistry of Tomas Hertl's new line was on display.
The Czech forward looked confident and comfortable playing center in Saturday’s game with Donskoi and Evander Kane on his wings. It was their line that responded 16 seconds after Edmonton opened up scoring in the first period. The trio was responsible for two goals on the afternoon, and might’ve notched even more had a few shots in the first period not rung off the post.
So there’s that sense of urgency we’ve heard so much about
For a good part of the season, Sharks coach Peter DeBoer has been critical of the team’s sense of urgency when they were leading by one or tied. On Saturday, the Sharks showed that edge – not just in responding to the Oilers’ first goal, but by not sitting back on their heels after gaining momentum late in the first period.
San Jose kept up a relentless pace through the next two periods, baffling the Oilers and finding ways to get the puck past Edmonton netminder Cam Talbot. The look of disbelief on Connor McDavid’s face when Couture pushed him off the puck and scored his first goal on the day was the priceless epitome. The Sharks' defensive effort helped as well, frustrating the Oilers and handing them their fifth loss in a row.