A San Jose Sharks team that has had all kinds of issues keeping the puck out of their own net this season now has to contend with the greatest single offensive force in the NHL.
The Sharks (13-22-8) host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Friday at SAP Center as they begin a three-game homestand that also features games against playoff hopefuls New Jersey on Monday and Dallas next Wednesday.
With 79 points in 43 games, McDavid is on pace for the greatest individual offensive season the NHL has seen since Mario Lemieux had 161 points in just 70 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-1996. He is already believed to be a lock for the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.
Since that season by Lemieux, only three players have had seasons of 125 points or more – Jaromir Jagr (127 in 1998-1999), Joe Thornton (125 in 2005-2006), and Nikita Kucherov (128 in 2018-2019).
McDavid has 12 goals and 30 points in 23 career regular-season games against the Sharks, who, before Thursday, were the third-worst team in the NHL in allowing 5-on-5 goals.
With their 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, the Sharks have now allowed an average of 2.60 goals per game during 5-on-5 play, a figure that ranks ahead of only Anaheim (2.83) and Columbus (2.68).
Against the Kings, all four goals the Sharks allowed came at even strength, including two in the third period. Nick Bonino and Tomas Hertl both scored in the loss, which marked the eighth time in the last 11 games that the Sharks have allowed four or more goals.
The Sharks are now 5-6-8 in one-goal games and 2-7-6 against Pacific Division opponents.
“We’re there every game, and just can’t get wins,” Bonino said. “It’s frustrating for everyone. We’re trying everything in practice and video, competing, and it’s just not going our way right now.”
NO KANE: Oilers winger and former Shark Evander Kane won’t play Friday but he is nearing a return from a frightening injury on Nov. 11, when he had his wrist accidentally cut by the skate blade of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon.
The laceration on Kane’s left wrist went to the bone and required surgery after he was rushed to a hospital in Tampa. Kane’s initial recovery time was listed at three-to-four months, but the Oilers are optimistic he could return at some point this month.
Edmonton has gone 14-11-3 in Kane’s absence and was in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with a 22-18-3 record prior to Thursday’s games.
In September, Kane reached a financial settlement with the Sharks, as the team made a one-time payment to the winger without having to incur a salary cap charge for this season or in the future.
The NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance on Kane’s behalf in Jan. 2022 after the Sharks, feeling the winger had breached his contract and violated AHL COVID-19 protocol, terminated what was left on the seven-year, $49 contract extension the two sides agreed upon in May 2018.
Kane had 166 points in 212 regular season games with the Sharks and helped them to three playoff series victories and an appearance in the 2019 Western Conference final. The Sharks have played 125 games without Kane since the start of last season and have gone 45-59-21.
“I played some of my best hockey in San Jose and gave everything I had on the ice,” Kane said in a statement after the settlement was announced. “I really enjoyed playing in front of the Sharks fans and appreciate my loyal fans who have supported me throughout.”
Kane signed a four-year, $20.5 million contract with the Oilers in the offseason. He joined Edmonton less than three weeks after he was officially released by the Sharks on Jan. 9, 2022. He has five goals and eight assists in 13 games this season.
HARRINGTON HURT: Sharks defenseman Scott Harrington left Wednesday’s game after the first period with what Sharks coach David Quinn described as an upper-body injury. The Sharks did not practice Thursday and it was not known if Harrington would be available to play the Oilers. If Harrington cannot play, Nick Cicek would likely draw into the lineup.
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