San Jose Sharks eliminated from playoffs with 3-1 loss to Edmonton Oilers

SAN JOSE - The traditional handshake line at center ice was finished. Some fans at SAP Center stood and cheered. Others remained silent, staying near their seats as the San Jose Sharks remained on the ice for several more moments and saluted them for the final time this season.

A year that began with aspirations of returning to the Stanley Cup Final ended in heartbreaking fashion Saturday at SAP Center, as the Sharks were eliminated from the playoffs with a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of their opening round playoff series.

Patrick Marleau, who, along with Joe Thornton, might have been playing his final game as a member of the Sharks at home, scored with 7:48 to go in the third period to cut the Oilers’ lead to 1. But the Sharks could get no closer, even though a Joe Pavelski attempt from in close went off the cross bar and the post before it bounced out of harm’s way.

Trailing the best-of-seven series 3-2, the Sharks needed a win to send the series to a seventh and deciding game in Edmonton on Monday. The Oilers advance to face the Anaheim Ducks in the second round.

The Oilers struck twice just 56 seconds apart in the second period, with both goals coming on breakaways.

Justin Braun had a shot attempt blocked by Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom. The puck then came to Adam Larsson, who fed a streaking Leon Draisailt in the neutral zone. Fighting off a check from Braun, Draisaitl got a shot off and found the five-hole on Sharks goalie Martin Jones just 54 seconds into the second period.

The Oilers made it 2-0 at the 1:50 mark of the second.

With the Sharks inside the Edmonton zone, Paul Martin couldn’t handle an off-target pass from Chris Tierney back to the Oilers’ blue line. Anton Slepyshev pounced on the loose puck in the neutral zone, skated in all alone on Jones and scored low blocker side for his first point of the series.

As the second period progressed, the Sharks pushed hard to get at least one of those goals back. But goalie Cam Talbot turned aside 12 Sharks shots in the second period to keep the Oilers ahead by two goals.

The Sharks were unable to convert on their one power play chance of the first 40 minutes.

The Sharks managed two shots on goal with the man advantage, but couldn’t convert. When the penalty to Caggiula expired, the Sharks dropped to 5 for 23 on the power play for the series.

The push resumed early in the third period, but the Sharks could not catch a break.