A 3-0 shutout loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the San Jose Sharks’ first game back after an extended break means every game matters as the team seeks to hold on to the quest for a Wild Card spot.
Rudolfs Balcers, who blocked a shot late in the last game and was present in morning skate, was a late scratch, making space for Jonah Gadjovich, a former Vancouver Canucks prospect. Defender Ryan Merkley, whose defensive instincts have left the Sharks wanting more, drew back in the line-up to prompt more offense.
The game opened with both teams testing the other’s goaltender — Thatcher Demko and James Reimer — although a few lapses in San Jose’s defensive coverage had them spending more time in their own zone.