Burns lifts Sharks past Oilers 3-2 for 2nd win in 11 games

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Brent Burns had a goal and an assist as the San Jose Sharks got a bit of relief from a late season funk with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.

Marcus Sorensen and Gustav Nyquist also scored and Aaron Dell finished with 26 saves for the Sharks, who improved to 2-8-1 in their last 11 games. San Jose has clinched second place in the Pacific Division and will face Vegas in the first round of the playoffs.

Leon Draisaitl had two goals for the Oilers, who have lost five straight and will miss the playoffs for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons. Anthony Stolarz had 24 saves.

Nyquist tipped Burns’ point shot with 1:12 left in the second to give San Jose the 3-2 lead.

Draisaitl started the scoring 2:03 into the opening period when he stripped a puck while short-handed and went in to send a backhand shot through Dell’s legs.

San Jose tied it up at 8:52 when Joe Thornton sent a pass from behind the net to Sorensen, who beat Stolarz. With the assist Thornton passed Steve Yzerman (1,063) for eighth-place on the NHL all-time list in that category.

The Sharks took a 2-1 lead just 1:12 later when Burns scored his 15th high to the glove side from the middle of the faceoff circle.

Edmonton tied it again early in the second when Matt Benning made a nice feed across to set up Draisaitl for his 49th at 3:22.

NOTES: It was the fifth and final meeting between the two teams this season with San Jose winning four. … Sharks D Erik Karlsson participated in the morning skate, but missed his 17th consecutive game with a groin injury. … Stolarz got the start for Edmonton after Mikko Koskinen had started 24 of the last 25 games.

UP NEXT

Sharks: Host Colorado on Saturday night.

Oilers: At Calgary on Saturday night.