SAN JOSE — Paul Martin and Sharks teammates Joel Ward and Melker Karlsson were not supposed to be tied for the team lead in goals at this point. The same can be said for Zack Kassian and the Edmonton Oilers.
But Norris Trophy favorite Brent Burns has no points in three games. Joe Pavelski has one assist. Both points for Connor McDavid, the Hart Trophy favorite, have come on special teams.
The Sharks and Oilers have done an admirable job of clamping down on the other team’s top players in the initial stages of their series, which has less goals per game than any other first round matchup.