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Oilers get down early, chase the game in 5-4 loss to Sharks: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
Edmonton Oilers San Jose Sharks
Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 28, 2026, 18:45 ESTUpdated: Feb 28, 2026, 18:50 EST
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It’s safe to say that the Edmonton Oilers aren’t playing their best hockey at the moment.
On Saturday afternoon, the Oilers headed to Northern California to play the San Jose Sharks for the second time this season, falling 5-4 in another high-scoring game. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
The Oilers weren’t playing well at the beginning of the game, as the Sharks had three scoring chances on the Oilers’ power play. Eventually, that momentum paid off for the Sharks eight and a half minutes into the game. Connor Ingram departed his net to grab his stick, but a turnover in the neutral zone caught him out of the net, which gave Macklin Celebrini a wide-open net to shoot into.
Midway through the first period, the Sharks received a power play as Spencer Stastney hooked William Eklund. Ingram stopped the initial shot, but the puck came loose before he could cover it, finding its way to the front of the crease. Michael Misa shoveled it into the back of the net to make it 2-0 Sharks.
With about five minutes left in the first period, the Oilers cut the Sharks’ lead in half thanks to a power play by Leon Draisaitl. The German cut in the middle of four Sharks and received a pass from McDavid, beating the Sharks’ netminder glove side to make it 2-1.
That score lasted 74 seconds, as Ingram lost sight of the puck after a point shot. Barclay Goodrow was the first on it, firing it past the Oilers’ netminder for the Sharks to restore their two-goal lead.
There was no scoring until late in the second period. After sustained zone time, Connor McDavid was able to make a perfect cross ice pass to Evan Bouchard, who was creeping down low on the weak side, bringing the Oilers to within one. This type of goal has been scored in all three games since the end of the Olympic break.
Matt Savoie’s excellent play since the break continued in this one. Three minutes into the third period, Savoie carried the puck over the line and faked as if he was going behind the net. Instead, he found a cutting Trent Frederic with a backhand pass, who banged it in for just his third goal of the season.
Less than two minutes later, the Sharks restored their lead. Two defencemen (Ty Emberson and Stastny) both went behind the net, leaving Alexander Wennberg all alone in front of the net. It ended as one would expect.
But again, the Oilers scored to tie the game less than two minutes later. Connor McDavid got the zone entry, passed it to a trailing Walman, who blasted it past his former team to score his third goal in the last two games.
Like they had done all game, the Sharks had a quick response, as Shakir Mukhamadullin’s shot from the point fooled Ingram. This one stood as the game-winner, as the Oilers failed to score on a six on four in the final minute of the game.

Takeaways…

In the past two games before the break, the Oilers came out of the gate ready to go. That wasn’t the case on Saturday. They got an early power play, but looked horrendous on it, as the Sharks intercepted two separate bump backs. That gave the Sharks all the momentum, which led to them leading the game 3-1 heading into the first.
Connor Ingram allowed some soft goals in the first period, but made some big saves when it was all said and done. He was a big reason the game stayed 3-1 in the second, making big save after big save. His third wasn’t as good, as the netminder finished stopping 28 of 33 shots for an .848 save percentage.
Matt Savoie looks like a whole new player since the break. He seems more confident in carrying the puck and that assist to Trent Frederic was a thing of beauty. Over his last three games, he has a goal and five assists.
Speaking of Frederic, that was his first goal since November 20th, and his first point since December 6th. Still, he’s played some good hockey since the new year, as the Oilers have an expected goal percentage of 54.25 percent since January 1st.
Evan Bouchard is a legitimate Norris Trophy candidate. With a goal and two assists in this one, he now has 17 goals and 69 points in 61 games this season. That’s tops in the league for points for defencemen and tied for fourth in goals.
This loss snapped a seven-game winning streak against the Sharks for the Oilers. Before this one, their most recent loss to the Sharks came on November 9th, 2023, the game that essentially got Jay Woodcroft fired.
Next up for the Oilers, they’ll return home to host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at 7:00 PM MT.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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