EDMONTON — Erik Karlsson had a goal and three assists and Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson each scored twice as the San Jose Sharks beat the slumping Edmonton Oilers 7-4 on Saturday.
Joonas Donskoi and Tomas Hertl also scored for the Sharks (21-12-7), who have won two in a row.
Connor McDavid had a pair of goals and Caleb Jones and Leon Draisaitl also responded for the Oilers (18-17-3), who have lost a season-high five straight.
Edmonton started the scoring six-and-a-half minutes into the first period when Draisaitl fed it from behind the net to Ty Rattie, who made the most of his return to the top line when his shot hit the inside of the post and appeared to trickle past San Jose starter Martin Jones. The goal was later credited to McDavid upon review, as he banged it in after a Sharks attempt to fish the puck to safety.
San Jose replied just 17 seconds later, however, as the Sharks tied it up on a tic-tac-toe passing play on a three-on-one , with Donskoi sending his seventh of the season past Oilers goalie Cam Talbot.
The Sharks took the lead midway through the opening frame when Hertl made a spin move in tight to beat Talbot for his 14th of the season.
San Jose made it 3-1 seven minutes into the second period when a one-timer from Couture from the side of the net hit Talbot and rolled in.
The Sharks extended their lead late in the second when Erik Karlsson scored on a long screen shot.
They added yet another goal early in the third when Melker Karlsson redirected in a Brent Burns point shot.
Couture gave the Sharks even more insurance after Talbot lost a race for the puck.
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Edmonton responded a couple minutes later when Jones recorded his first career NHL goal.
Melker Karlsson closed out the Sharks scoring with his sixth before Draisaitl got his 19th and McDavid notched his 21st for the Oilers late in the game.
Both teams return to action on New Year’s Eve Monday, with the Sharks heading to Calgary to face the Flames and the Oilers playing host to the Winnipeg Jets.
NOTES: Both teams had players return from two-game suspensions as Erik Karlsson came back for the Sharks and forward Jujhar Khaira was reinserted into the Oilers’ lineup.
Shane Jones, The Canadian Press
