Sharks determined to end long trend of losing to Oilers
Following years of futility, the San Jose Sharks are once again playoff contenders.
Perhaps they'll end their recent struggles against the Edmonton Oilers, as well.
Aiming for a third straight victory, the Sharks look to avoid a seventh consecutive loss against the host Oilers on Thursday night.
San Jose hasn't been to the playoffs since 2019, but its 57 points have already surpassed the total from each of the past two seasons. The Sharks are 10-4-0 since Dec. 27.
Macklin Celebrini had a goal with three assists Tuesday as San Jose overcame an early 1-0 hole to win 5-2 at Vancouver.
"We're starting to pick up little details, momentum shifts in games," Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "We got to keep pushing forward and get better in areas."
After totaling two points over a five-game stretch, Celebrini has followed with six points in the last two. However, the second-year superstar managed just two assists as the Sharks lost all four games versus Edmonton in 2024-25.
San Jose last beat Edmonton 3-2 at home on Nov. 9, 2023. The Sharks are 1-10-4 against the Oilers in the last 15 meetings.
In the mix for first place in the Pacific Division, Edmonton totaled 13 goals while winning two straight after losing two in a row.
After being blanked in the Oilers' back-to-back losses to New Jersey and Pittsburgh last week, superstar Connor McDavid totaled three goals and four assists in the two wins that followed. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm recorded his first career hat trick and Leon Draisaitl notched four assists during Edmonton's 7-4 home win over Anaheim on Monday.
While McDavid and Draisaitl, who has seven assists in the last two games after also going without a point in the previous two, are the undeniable leaders and offensive superstars in Edmonton, Ekholm represents the depth the team boasts.
The veteran blue-liner has recorded seven of his 26 points in the last five games.
"He's going to be tough to play against every night," forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said about Ekholm. "It makes a huge difference for our team."
Since joining the Oilers in 2023, Ekholm has three goals and seven points in eight games versus San Jose. Meanwhile, McDavid has 17 goals and 50 points in 33 career games against the Sharks, and Draisaitl has 13 goals and 39 points in 36 matchups.
Edmonton goalie Tristan Jarry made 37 saves against the Ducks. He owns a 3-2-1 record and an .882 save percentage since returning from an 11-game absence with a lower-body injury.
Teammate Connor Ingram has a .909 save percentage in 10 starts for the Oilers, but he was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots during Saturday's 6-5 overtime win against Washington. Meanwhile, the struggling Calvin Pickard (.871 SV%) yielded seven goals in two January starts.
San Jose's Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves against the Canucks to snap a three-start losing streak.
However, teammate Alex Nedeljkovic, with a .931 save percentage in his last five starts -- all wins -- is likely to be back in the Sharks net.
McDavid (92 points), Celebrini (78) and Draisaitl (74) rank among the NHL's top five scorers.