Oilers’ McDavid nearly on same scoring pace as NHL legend; former Shark Kane close to return

A San Jose Sharks team that has had all kinds of issues keeping the puck out of their own net this season now has to contend with the greatest single offensive force in the NHL.

The Sharks (13-22-8) host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Friday at SAP Center as they begin a three-game homestand that also features games against playoff hopefuls New Jersey on Monday and Dallas next Wednesday.

With 79 points in 43 games, McDavid is on pace for the greatest individual offensive season the NHL has seen since Mario Lemieux had 161 points in just 70 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-1996. He is already believed to be a lock for the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.

Since that season by Lemieux, only three players have had seasons of 125 points or more – Jaromir Jagr (127 in 1998-1999), Joe Thornton (125 in 2005-2006), and Nikita Kucherov (128 in 2018-2019).

McDavid has 12 goals and 30 points in 23 career regular-season games against the Sharks, who, before Thursday, were the third-worst team in the NHL in allowing 5-on-5 goals.

With their 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, the Sharks have now allowed an average of 2.60 goals per game during 5-on-5 play, a figure that ranks ahead of only Anaheim (2.83) and Columbus (2.68).

Against the Kings, all four goals the Sharks allowed came at even strength, including two in the third period.

Gabe Vilardi, from the high slot, tipped a Sean Durzi shot past James Reimer for a 3-2 Los Angeles lead at the 12:40 mark of the third period, just 2:29 after Timo Meier had tied the game with a power play goal.

Then at the 13:33 mark of the third, the Sharks lost a faceoff in the Los Angeles zone and both Tomas Hertl and Erik Karlsson chased after Alex Iafallo on a Kings breakout play. That allowed the hosts to create an odd-man rush the other way, and Drew Doughty beat Reimer high glove side from the slot for a 4-2 Kings lead.

Hertl responded with his 14th goal of the season with 2:06 to go in the third period, but the loss marked the eighth time in the last 11 games that the Sharks have allowed four or more goals.

“Obviously the third goal is a killer after you tie it up,” Sharks coach David Quinn said Wednesday night. “A couple of turnovers in the d-zone. It’s a tough play because (Durzi) throws it from the blue line and (Vilardi) is expanding, coming off the top of the circles and he tips it, and it finds its way in.

“The fourth (Kings goal) was blown coverage on the face-off, which we’ve done nine million times successfully this year. Really, in a lot of ways, summarizes what’s happened to us, where (on) something we’ve done well all year, we end up giving up a goal on it.”

NO KANE: Oilers winger and former Shark Evander Kane won’t play Friday but he is nearing a return from a frightening injury on Nov. 11, when he had his wrist accidentally cut by the skate blade of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pat Maroon.

The laceration on Kane’s left wrist went to the bone and required surgery after he was rushed to a hospital in Tampa. Kane’s initial recovery time was listed at three-to-four months, but the Oilers are optimistic he could return at some point this month.

Edmonton has gone 14-11-3 in Kane’s absence and was in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with a 22-18-3 record prior to Thursday’s games.

In September, Kane reached a financial settlement with the Sharks, as the team made a one-time payment to the winger without having to incur a salary cap charge for this season or in the future.

The NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance on Kane’s behalf in Jan. 2022 after the Sharks, feeling the winger had breached his contract and violated AHL COVID-19 protocol, terminated what was left on the seven-year, $49 contract extension the two sides agreed upon in May 2018.

Kane had 166 points in 212 regular season games with the Sharks and helped them to three playoff series victories and an appearance in the 2019 Western Conference final. The Sharks have played 125 games without Kane since the start of last season and have gone 45-59-21.

“I played some of my best hockey in San Jose and gave everything I had on the ice,” Kane said in a statement after the settlement was announced. “I really enjoyed playing in front of the Sharks fans and appreciate my loyal fans who have supported me throughout.”

Kane signed a four-year, $20.5 million contract with the Oilers in the offseason. He joined Edmonton less than three weeks after he was officially released by the Sharks on Jan. 9, 2022. He has five goals and eight assists in 13 games this season.

HARRINGTON HURT: Sharks defenseman Scott Harrington left Wednesday’s game after the first period with what Quinn described as an upper-body injury. The Sharks did not practice Thursday and it was not known if Harrington would be available to play the Oilers. If Harrington cannot play, Nick Cicek would likely draw into the lineup.