San Jose Sharks’ defense gets offensive in loss to Edmonton Oilers

SAN JOSE Getting a few point production from their defense corps will no doubt benefit the San Jose Sharks as they try to finish what s left of this season on a positive note That and specific solid goaltending gave the Sharks a chance to beat the playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night Mario Ferraro had two assists and Jack Thompson scored his fourth goal of the season but a second-period goal by Jeff Skinner was the difference as the Oilers handed the Sharks a - loss before an stated crowd of at SAP Center On the play a faceoff in the Sharks zone got back to Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard whose unblocked shot toward the net was redirected by Skinner s skate past San Jose goalie Georgi Romanov at the mark of the second period We lose coverage on the back side with our defenseman not boxing out Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky commented Then a young sportsman in Cam Lund just doesn t get out there quick enough and extend his stick It s a detail that you ostensibly get away with in college but not at this level So it s something he ll learn from Romanov finished with saves and Tyler Toffoli scored his th goal of the season but the Sharks - - despite a better overall performance than latest lopsided results against the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings lost their fourth straight competition The San Jose Sharks celebrate a goal scored by San Jose Sharks Jack Thompson against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose Calif on Thursday April Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group Pretty good effort We would like to get one there in the third We had a lot of chances Ferraro disclosed For the majority part we were pretty on top of them Just couldn t find a way to get that extra one to tie it up late Connor Brown and Victor Arvidsson also scored for the Oilers who played the second half of the encounter without the NHL s leading scorer Leon Draisaitl The Oilers center who has goals this season left the tournament in the second period with a lower-body injury In the games since they traded defenseman Jake Walman the Sharks have only managed three goals and assists from their defensemen But against the Oilers the Sharks blue line seemed to activate a little more to create chosen odd-man opportunities That was the situation on Toffoli s goal at the mark of the second period Ferraro joined the rush and took a pass from Macklin Celebrini on a -on- and revealed Toffoli who tied the competition - Every club wants to get several production off the back side Warsofsky explained It s fundamental that we get guys up in the rush a little bit more so it s not just a three-man rush If you look at rush teams that have a lot of offenses it s coming from the back with a fourth wave and that s something that we ve got to continue to work on Thompson was recalled from the Barracuda on Monday after defenseman Luca Cagnoni and forward Patrick Giles were returned to the AHL The Sharks also lost defenseman Vincent Desharnais to an upper-body injury late last week Edmonton Oilers Jake Walman skates on the ice before a encounter against the San Jose Sharks during warmups at the SAP Center in San Jose Calif on Thursday April Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group Warsofsky commented young offensive defensemen have a tendency to play a bit too conservatively when they get to the NHL instead of playing to their strengths Thompson who spent greater part of March in the AHL and had five points in his last four games with the Barracuda tried to heed that advice I m definitely trying to learn that and trying to continue to grow that side when I m up here is to make plays and not feel nervous to make a mistake Thompson mentioned I m trying to learn still but I think Thursday was a step in the right direction MUKHAMADULLIN OUT Shakir Mukhamadullin did not play Thursday and it remains unclear whether the injured Sharks rookie defenseman will be able to return this season Mukhamadullin per the Hockey News had his left arm in a sling after Thursday s competition Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky commented Thursday that Mukhamadullin was still being evaluated after he sustained an upper-body injury early in the third period of the club s contest against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday It s unclear if Mukhamadullin will be able to return this season The Sharks already officially eliminated from playoff contention now have just seven games remaining with their last match on April at home also against Edmonton Early in the third period of Tuesday s competition at Honda Center Mukhamadullin collided with Troy Terry in the neutral zone knocking down the Ducks forward Mukhamadullin was met by Anaheim winger Frank Vatrano who dropped his stick threw his gloves down grabbed the Sharks blueliner and dragged him to the ice San Jose Sharks Jack Thompson celebrates scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose Calif on Thursday April Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group With Muhamadullin unavailable left-shot defenseman Henry Thrun returned to the Sharks lineup for the first time since March when he re-aggravated an upper-body injury in a challenge against the New York Islanders Thrun who has missed of the last games has been skating in recent weeks but did not go through a full-contact Sharks practice before Thursday GEORGIEV HURT Sharks starting goalie Alexandar Georgiev has an upper-body injury and did not play against the Oilers The injury though is not considered serious as Georgiev skated Thursday morning Georgi Romanov started against the Oilers and Gabriel Carriere recalled from the Barracuda on Thursday backed him up Yaroslav Askarov who re-aggravated a lower-body injury before Wednesday s Barracuda tournament against Ontario and did not play traveled with the band to Colorado and is available to play with the Sharks AHL affiliate on Friday and Saturday Askarov hasn t played since Feb when he first sustained the injury HOMECOMING Thursday marked Walman and Ty Emberson s first event back in San Jose since being traded by the Sharks Walman was sent to Edmonton just before the agreement deadline last month for a conditional first-round pick and Emberson went to the Oilers last summer in the deal that brought defenseman Cody Ceci and a third-round pick to San Jose Edmonton Oilers Jake Walman skates on the ice before a tournament against the San Jose Sharks during warmups at the SAP Center in San Jose Calif on Thursday April Shae Hammond Bay Area News Group