SAN JOSE -– After giving the Oilers their only win in their last 16 games, the Sharks were in danger of losing yet another game to the league’s doormat.
Instead, goals by Matt Tennyson and Barclay Goodrow erased a third period deficit in a 4-3 Sharks win on Thursday night at SAP Center.
It was San Jose’s seventh straight win at home, and eighth in the last nine games, all in regulation. The Sharks improved to 18-11-4, moving ahead of Vancouver and into second place in the Pacific Division with 40 points.
Tennyson’s first career NHL goal tied the game at 3-3 on a power play. From center ice, Tommy Wingels spotted the defenseman cruising up the far wing, and found him with a pass into the offensive zone. Tennyson’s wrist shot went through Ben Scrivens’ legs at 8:29, with David Perron in the penalty box on a questionable check to the head minor.
Just 34 seconds later, Goodrow scored the decider. He got behind the Oilers’ defense and received a pass from Brent Burns while charging ahead. Justin Schultz caught up, but Goodrow fought off the Edmonton defenseman and slid it in at 9:03 for his second career marker.
The Sharks improved to 10-1-1 in their last 12 home games against Edmonton, which is just 1-11-5 in its last 17 overall.
Having not played since last Saturday, the Sharks trailed 1-0 after one, but scored two goals in succession to claim their first lead in the middle frame.
James Sheppard ended 17-game goal-scoring drought, getting open in the slot and redirecting a perfect pass through traffic from behind the net by Goodrow at 5:51.
Less than two minutes later, Logan Couture played the puck off of his skate at offensive the blue line, and then flicked a shot over Scrivens’ far shoulder at 7:36 for his 13th goal giving San Jose the 2-1 edge.
The lead was short lived. Edmonton’s fourth line victimized San Jose’s fourth line, when Steven Pinizzotto cleaned up some loose garbage in the crease after Justin Schultz directed one towards the net at 8:23.
Soon after that, Jordan Eberle cut to the circle from the wall, and Antti Niemi was unable to control Eberle's shot attempt. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins charged past Justin Braun and slammed it in midway through regulation, and the Oilers took a 3-2 lead into the dressing room after 40 minutes.
Edmonton got the only goal of the first period. David Perron won a battle in the corner and then found Boyd Gordon, whose squeezed a backhander through Niemi at 14:43.
San Jose had the better of the scoring chances over the first 20 minutes. Tomas Hertl and Joe Thornton failed to execute on a two-on-one early, and later Couture passed up on an opportunity to shoot from the slot on a three-on-two with 13:30 to go.
The Sharks and Oilers will meet twice more, on Feb. 2 at SAP Center and April 9 in Edmonton. San Jose has won two of the first three, including a 5-2 home win on Dec. 9.
Special teams
The Sharks finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Oilers failed to score on their only advantage.
San Jose has killed off 14 of 15 opponent power plays over the last seven games.
In goal
Appearing in his 300th career NHL games, and coming off of a 29-save shutout of Nashville last Saturday, Niemi fought the puck most of the night while struggling with his rebound control. He still got his sixth straight win, though, with 25 saves. He made a right pad save on Perron with about half a minute left to preserve the win.
Scrivens, who has started all three games of the season series, took the loss in allowing four goals on 30 shots.
Alex Stalock played the first two games against Edmonton, going 1-1.
Lineup
John Scott returned to the lineup in place of Tye McGinn in the only Sharks lineup change from last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nashville.
Up next
The Sharks close out their homestand with the Blues on Saturday, looking to go a perfect 6-0. Three of San Jose’s next nine games are against St. Louis, including Jan. 3 at SAP Center and Jan. 8 at Scottrade Center.
San Jose visits Anaheim on Monday in the final game before a four-day break for Christmas.
