EDMONTON – James Reimer had such a good view of Martin Jones’ heroics the night before, he decided to one-up his counterpart on Tuesday in Edmonton.
Making just his second start with San Jose after a trade in late February, Reimer made 31 saves, including a number of fancy stops in the third. Logan Couture scored twice in leading the offense in a 3-0 Sharks win over the Oilers at Rexall Place.
It was Reimer’s first shutout of the season and 12th of his career. He’s 5-0 against the Oilers in his career.
The Sharks swept a quick two-game trip through Alberta, including Jones’ 47-save performance in a 2-1 overtime win at the Saddledome in Calgary on Monday. San Jose improved to 5-1-0 in their last six, and drew to within three points of first place Anaheim and two of second place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division.
Oilers goalie Cam Talbot had allowed just three goals in his last four games, but Couture beat him twice early.
The Sharks jumped ahead in the game’s second minute. Couture’s shot hit Talbot and settled in the blue paint, and before the netminder could locate it, Couture charged in and nudged it over the line at 1:33.
[WATCH: Shots of the Game: Couture makes presence felt in first period]
Couture’s second came on the power play. He whipped a wrist shot from the top of the circle into the top corner at 15:50.
The Sharks’ 26-year-old center broke out of a seven-game goal drought.
Joe Pavelski had the only score of the second period. His 31st goal came the same way so many have happened in the past, when he deflected a Paul Martin floater through Talbot at 14:03.
Reimer's best saves came early in the third period when he denied Matt Hendricks at 1:39, got a blocker on an Adam Clendenning attempt with 16 minutes to go, and stoned Patrick Maroon in front with 14:30 showing on the clock.
In their final game at Rexall Place, the Sharks saw hotshot rookie Connor McDavid for the first time. They held him to two shots.
Late in regulation Roman Polak inadvertently interfered with Matt Hendricks, who went hard into the end boards and was slow to get up. Darnell Nurse dropped the gloves to fight Nurse shortly after the Oilers failed to convert on the ensuing power play, and bloodied the San Jose defenseman with a right hand to the face.
The Sharks are 13-3-1 in their last 17 games against Edmonton, including a 2-0-1 mark this season. The Oilers visit SAP Center on March 24.
San Jose improved its road record to 25-9-3.
Special teams
After being shorthanded seven times in each of their last two games, the Sharks had to kill just a Marc-Edouard Vlasic cross-checking minor in the second period and the Polak interference in the third.
San Jose finished 1-for-2 on the power play, and is 3-for-17 over its last eight games.
In goal
Sharks starter Martin Jones got his second night off in the last three games, following his spectacular performance on Monday.
Talbot allowed three goals on 22 shots, but made some highlight reel saves. He stacked the pads on Joonas Donskoi’s shot on a two-on-one late in the second period, and snared a Patrick Marleau wrist shot towards an open net midway through the third.
Lineup
There was yet another change to the Sharks’ lines after Monday’s weak effort in Calgary. Couture skated between Matt Nieto and Donskoi on the second line while Marleau centered Joel Ward and Nick Spaling.
Couture notched his 20th two-goal game, 14 of which have come on the road. He’s never had a hat trick.
Brent Burns’ four-game goal streak, the longest in franchise history for a defenseman, ended.
Up next
The Sharks host New Jersey on Thursday, and will play nine of their next 10 overall at SAP Center. They beat coach Pete DeBoer’s former team in just their fourth game of the season on Oct. 16 at Prudential Center, 2-1 in a shootout.
The NHL-leading Washington Capitals visit on Saturday.
