SB Nation Bay Area - San Jose Sharks Beat Edmonton Oilers 2-1 Behind Couture, Boyle, And Niitymakihttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2010-12-22T02:28:26-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16531202010-12-22T02:28:26-08:002010-12-22T02:28:26-08:00Logan Couture Captivates, Antero Niittymaki Protects, Dan Boyle Delivers, Sharks Beat Oilers
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<p>(<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fearthefin.com/2010/12/21/1891037/sharks-reel-off-third-straight-defeat-edmonton-2-1">For a Sharks perspective, head over to Fear The Fin to read the official recap</a>.)<br><br>San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - <span>Antero Niittymaki</span> was sharp with 26 saves and helped lead San Jose to a 2-1 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> at the Shark Tank.<br><br><span>Logan Couture</span> and <span>Dan Boyle</span> scored for the Sharks, who have won three straight and four of their last six games overall. San Jose has now captured nine of its last 10 games against the Oilers.<br><br>"We talked about putting a string of wins together," Boyle said. "We really want to win this next one."<br><br><span>Dustin Penner</span> scored for Edmonton, which has dropped three of its last four games.<br><br><span>Nikolai Khabibulin</span> allowed two goals on 30 shots in the losing effort.<br><br>The Sharks opened the scoring at the 13:15 mark of the second period on Couture's 18th goal. Ryan Clowe held the puck in the lower portion of the right slot and sent a backhand pass into the crease area for a successful tip- in redirection tally by Couture.<br><br>Later in the middle stanza, a power-play tally by Boyle gave the Sharks a two-goal edge. After <span>Ryan Whitney</span> was whistled for holding the stick at 14:48, the Sharks went to work in their offensive zone with the extra skater but several scoring attempts were thwarted by Khabibulin.<br><br>With time dwindling on the power play, Boyle corralled the puck near the centerpoint, drifted into the high slot and buried a wrist shot that made its way through heavy traffic and into the back of the cage with 3:17 remaining before the second intermission.<br><br>Penner's 11th goal cut Edmonton's deficit in half with 1:59 to play in regulation -- with an extra attacker on the ice in favor of Khabibulin -- with a deflection goal from in close, but the Sharks used several late clears and held on for the win.<br><br>"It's just one of those special teams games that's been killing us for awhile now," Whitney said.<br><br>San Jose was 1-for-4 on the power play, while Edmonton failed to score on either of its power-play chances...It was Boyle's fourth goal...Couture continued his lead atop the rookie list for goal scoring. He also now holds sole possession of the top spot for points among rookies with 25.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2010/12/22/1891163/logan-couture-dan-boyle-antero-niittymaki-san-jose-sharks-2-edmonton-oilers-1Avinash Kunnath2010-12-21T17:12:57-08:002010-12-21T17:12:57-08:00Sharks Looking To Make It Three Straight Overall, And Three Straight Over Oilers
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<p>The Sharks have got themselves a winning streak going, how 'bout that? Sure, it's only two wins and could come to an end tonight, but all signs point to them being able to handle it, if the first two meetings between the teams are anything to go by. Protip: they are something to go by - not a definitive, tell-all thing, - but they're a good indicator regardless.</p>
<p>Then again, circumstances change, any given team can get a hot streak going and that's just what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> have done. They're looking for their fourth straight road win while the Sharks are just looking for a third straight win in general. They'd like to get it done against the Oilers, perhaps with the assistance of the ultra-productive <span>Logan Couture</span> and make it 9-1-0 in their last ten meetings with the team.</p>
<p>The last contest between the two teams saw the Sharks walk away with a 4-3 victory with <span>Antero Niittymaki</span> in net, where he'll be again tonight over <span>Antti Niemi</span>. Niittymaki stopped 22 shots and with the support of two <span>Dany Heatley</span> goals, the Sharks walked away with a win that was a bit more lopsided than the score would indicate.</p>
<p>The first meeting this season was a 6-1 drubbing which saw Heatley and <span>Joe Pavelski</span> score, while captain <span>Joe Thornton</span> picked up three assists. Niittymaki was the goalie then as well, stopping 21-of-22 shots on goal. To keep it brief as the game is about to be on, the Sharks are looking to keep on marching and the Oilers are looking to make a statement. Sounds good from here.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/12/21/2326717/sharks-looking-to-make-it-three-straight-overall-and-three-straightJames Brady