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Thursday 22 November 2018

Oilers top Sharks 4-3 in OT in Hitchcock’s 1st game as coach

By JOSH DUBOW in the third. We really got gotten two points,” coach utes into the period. point was stopped by
AP Sports Writer on the grind.” Peter DeBoer said. “We “There are too many odd- Koskinen, but Donskoi was
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins add- didn’t have enough par- man rushes,” Couture said. able to backhand the re-
Connor McDavid and ed a short-handed goal ticipants tonight. We didn’t “It wasn’t horrible tonight. bound in.
the Edmonton Oilers re- McDavid got the equalizer
sponded the right way to midway through the period
a wakeup call after coach when he beat Burns down
Todd McLellan was fired the slot to take a feed from
just hours before they took Draisaitl and knocked it
the ice. in for his milestone goal.
McDavid scored his 100th McDavid reached the
career goal and set up mark in his 230th game.
Leon Draisaitl’s game-win- Only Wayne Gretzky (145
ner 51 seconds into over- games), Glenn Anderson
time to give the Oilers a (183) and Jari Kurri (214) got
4-3 victory against the San there faster for the Oilers.
Jose Sharks in Ken Hitch- Thornton then reached his
cock’s first game as coach milestone later in the pe-
Tuesday night. riod when he fed Sorensen
“That’s what it has to be,” from behind the goal line
McDavid said. “Anytime for a one-timer that beat
you bring in a new coach, Koskinen.
that’s kind of the last option Edmonton tied the game
I would say before ship- early in the second when
ping everyone out. This is Nugent-Hopkins converted
a chance for us to come a 2-on-1 off a feed from
together and turn this Kyle Brodziak after the
around.” Sharks turned the puck
The Oilers started that pro- over in the offensive zone
cess by overcoming three on a power play.
deficits to earn just their “Obviously it says some-
second win in eight games. thing about your team, that
McDavid set up Drake you need to start playing
Caggiula’s tying goal ear- Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19), from Finland, celebrates with left wing Drake better,” Nugent-Hopkins
ly in the third period and Caggiula (91) and center Cooper Marody (65) in front of head coach Ken Hitchcock after beating said. “We need to make
then the winner in overtime the San Jose Sharks in overtime of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. a push here now. Our last
when his pass ricocheted Associated Press eight or so games haven’t
off defenseman Marc- been good enough. I felt
Edouard Vlasic before hit- and Mikko Koskinen made play well enough for long It was better than it has tonight we responded well,
ting Draisaitl’s skate and 22 saves. enough stretches. It wasn’t been, but still too many. Es- so we just have to keep
trickling past goalie Martin Joe Thornton assisted on one or two guys, it was al- pecially when you are out that going.”
Jones. Marcus Sorensen’s goal in most everybody.” there against Connor. You NOTES: McDavid has 31
“I was more worried that it the first period to tie Mario The Sharks took a 3-2 lead in can’t give them that many points, becoming the first
was past my bedtime and I Lemieux for 11th place all- the final minute of the sec- chances. He’s their best Oilers player to reach 30
wasn’t going to be able to time with his 1,033rd helper. ond period when Couture player.” in 21 or fewer games since
stay up,” Hitchcock said. “I Joonas Donskoi and Logan deked Adam Larsson on The Hitchcock era got off Mark Messier did it in 19
don’t think I’ve seen a third Couture also scored for San the rush and beat Koskinen to a rough start for the Oil- games in 1989-90. ... Thorn-
period all year out West. Jose. for his first goal in 11 games. ers, who allowed a goal in ton needs seven assists to
But for me, we just got bet- “Tonight’s a disappointing But the Oilers responded the opening minute when tie Marcel Dionne for 10th
ter and better as the game one because I thought if we early in the third when Mc- Donskoi was left alone in place. ... F Tomas Hertl re-
went on. had gotten a little bit better David set up Caggiula on front of the net after a fa- turned to the Sharks lineup
We got better in the sec- effort from everybody, from an odd-man rush for the ceoff win by San Jose. after missing two games
ond; we were really good 20 guys, we should have equalizer less than four min- Brent Burns’ shot from the with a lower-body injury.q