Stuart Skinner, Oilers shut out San Jose Sharks 5-0
Dec 28, 2023, 10:24 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2023, 6:50 am
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: James Hamblin #57 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots on goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center on December 28, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Stuart Skinner posted his second shutout of the season and the visiting Edmonton Oilers rode a four-goal first period to a 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Evan Bouchard, Zach Hyman and Ryan McLeod all collected one goal and one assist while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl scored once for the Oilers, who are riding a three-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 14 games. Darnell Nurse collected two assists.
Skinner made 25 saves, his biggest on Anthony Duclair’s one-timer early in the third period and against Mike Hoffman’s offering late in the game, for his fourth career shutout.
San Jose goalie Magnus Chrona, who made his first NHL start, was victimized for four goals on 12 shots before being pulled after the first period. Kaapo Kahkonen took the net for the final two periods and stopped 17 shots in relief.
The Sharks, who sit at the bottom of the league standings, are on a seven-game losing skid.
McLeod ran his goal-scoring streak to three games when he opened the scoring 60 seconds into the clash. Upon gaining the puck near the blue line, McLeod worked to the left faceoff dot and sent a shot inside the far post for his sixth goal of the season.
Hyman reached the 20-goal mark just past the period’s midway point to double the score by converting a cross-ice feed from Connor McDavid on a two-on-one rush.
Bouchard extended the lead to 3-0 with his ninth goal of the campaign. The defenseman unloaded a slap shot from the point that found the mark at 14:55 of the period.
Draisaitl capped the four-goal frame by netting his 15th of the season. Draisaitl was parked at the doorstep when he took a pass and tucked his shot into the goal.
Nugent-Hopkins rounded out the scoring when he tallied his ninth of the season at 9:07 of the second period. He was in the high slot and deflected Cody Ceci’s point shot.
–Field Level Media
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