Corey Perry broke a tie in the third period, Connor McDavid had four assists and the host Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2 and clinched a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season on Friday night.
Defenseman Evan Bouchard had a goal and an assist and Ty Emberson and Connor Brown also scored for the Oilers (46-28-5, 97 points), who won their second straight. Adam Henrique had two assists and Calvin Pickard made 22 saves.
McDavid reached 70 assists for the seventh time in his career, joining Wayne Gretzky (16 times) and Mario Lemieux (eight times) as the only players to accomplish that feat.
Will Smith and defenseman Henry Thrun got the goals for the Sharks (20-48-11, 51 points), who lost their eighth in a row. Georgi Romanov stopped 30 shots.
A power-play goal gave Edmonton a 3-2 lead 7:32 into the third period, as Perry tipped McDavid’s pass through Georgiev’s equipment. Brown added an empty-net goal with 26 seconds left.
Thrun tied the game 2-2 with 14:16 left in the second period. His harmless-looking shot attempt from deep along the left-wing boards went in off the skate of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, who was in the crease.
Bouchard opened the scoring with a power-play goal 6:47 into the game. His one-time slap slapshot from above the high slot deflected in of San Jose’s Alexander Wennberg.
Emberson made it 2-0 with 4:19 left in the first period when he tipped in a pass from McDavid. It was Emberson’s first goal as an Oiler. He played with the Sharks last season.
But Smith put San Jose on the board just 1:32 later on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. It was his fifth goal in his last four games.
Edmonton defenseman Mattias Ekholm returned after missing seven games, and 13 of 17, with an undisclosed injury, but he left the game early in the first period. Edmonton forward Zach Hyman left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury, so the Oilers finished with 11 forwards and five defensemen.
–Field Level Media
