Oilers look to make it 3 straight over Sharks

The slap shot provided a bit of redemption for Schlemko, who gave up Game 3's only goal after an errant pass near the Sharks goal. In their Game 1 win they had to erase a 2-0 lead before Melker Karlsson's overtime marker, and they hadn't found the net since.

The Sharks had only 16 shots in a Game 3 loss in San Jose on Sunday, but had 14 in the first period in Game 4. The Oilers are averaging three goals per game and are scoring on 22.9 percent of their power play opportunities.

Did the Columbus Blue Jackets get back in the groove, even in falling behind 3-0 in their series, considering the four goals they scored against Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 3? He missed the final three games of the regular season and the first two playoff games after injuring his knee at Vancouver on April 2.

David Schlemko's power play goal at 6:45 of the third period capped the scoring.

Cam Talbot stopped all 16 shots he faced for his first career playoff shutout and Edmonton's first postseason win since 2006. Logan Couture added a power play goal later in the period.

With Joe Thornton back in the lineup, the Sharks were relentless in the first period when they were credited with an astonishing 32 hits and outshot the Oilers 13-6.

SAN JOSE The San Jose Sharks' offense continued to sputter Sunday in Game 3 of their first round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers. Probably not. It's still a fun little story to follow - especially Thursday when the Sharks visit Edmonton for Game 5. "I don't know if there was really any time to let frustration settle in", said Pavelski.

Game 5 of the series goes Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The Oilers bounced back from a lukewarm start and responded with a near-perfect effort, winning a chess-like affair by capitalizing on a late San Jose miscue to take a 2-1 series lead. Not surprisingly, it was captain Joe Pavelski who set the early tone, redirecting a Justin Braun shot past Cam Talbot.

After taking a 2-0 lead after the first period on the quick goal by Pavelski and a goal by Couture midway through the period, San Jose broke the game open with a four-goal second period.

San Jose prepared for Oilers star Connor McDavid. "We need to come up with a big effort tonight and I think past experiences have shown that things like that can happen and guys can step up for the challenge".

"The outside noise occurred one, because Taylor Hall's a tremendous hockey player", McLellan said, "and two, not many people knew a lot about Larsson".

"We've been saying we have confidence in it, just a matter of time before we strike", Sharks center Joe Thornton said. At some point in the not too distant future we won't be able to count his playoff goals one hand. Laurent Brossoit gave up another two goals on only eight shots. "Every time we need a save, he seems to be there". But the fact that they have overcome their imperfections and put themselves in the driver's seat against the defending Western Conference champions bodes pretty well for their future, both in the short- and long-term.

Draisaitl started the game at wing on a line with McDavid, but Edmonton coach Todd McLellan adjusted his lines in the second period, moving Draisaitl to centre on Kassian's line.