SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Tomas Hertl scored a goal and set up another to help the San Jose Sharks win their second straight game following 11 consecutive losses to open the season, 3-2 over the slumping Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
In a matchup of the NHL's two worst teams so far this season, it was Connor McDavid and the Oilers who ended up on the losing end.
Hertl assisted on Fabian Zetterlund's goal that opened the scoring in the first period and then took advantage of a fortunate bounce to score midway through the second period.
Filip Zadina also scored for San Jose, which ended an an eight-game losing streak against the Oilers.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 39 saves, coming up big on an Edmonton power-play late in the game after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with the goalie pulled with 2:26 to play.
Darnell Nurse also scored for the Oilers.
McDavid, who led the NHL with 64 goals last season, has no goals in his last seven games. The Oilers have lost four straight and have one win in their last nine contests. Their five points are tied with the 1993-94 team for the fewest through 12 games in franchise history.
Stuart Skinner made 15 saves for Edmonton in the first game since the Oilers sent high-priced goalie Jack Campbell to the AHL in what coach Jay Woodcroft described as a “message” to his struggling team.
Woodcroft said after the move that he expected the Oilers to play their best game of the season but that didn't materialize.
The Sharks responded late in the period when Nikita Okhtiuk's pass deflected off Zetterlund to an open Hertl in the slot. Hertl beat Skinner for his second goal of the season.
Zadina added an insurance goal early in the third when he scored on a 2-on-1 rush off a pass from Nico Sturm.
That was enough to give the Sharks their second win of the season after tying a record with 11 straight losses — including one in a shootout — to open the season.
UP NEXT
Oilers: At Seattle on Saturday night.
Sharks: At Vegas on Friday night.
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Josh Dubow, The Associated Press
