Sharks takeaways: What we learned in 4-3 overtime loss to Oilers

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SAN JOSE – Never mind that the Edmonton Oilers won only three of their last 10 games, and had a drama-filled Tuesday as coach Todd McLellan was fired. The Sharks knew they were still going to have a challenge on their hands Tuesday night when the Connor McDavid-led squad visited the Tank.

It was a doozy, with the Sharks failing to hold onto leads in the first, second, and third periods. In the end, San Jose came out on the losing end, 4-3 in overtime.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s overtime loss

The trouble with the odd-man rushes returned

Really, this accounted for the Oilers staying in the game and tying continuing to tie things up. The Sharks were visibly better in this department during their previous game against the St. Louis Blues. In Tuesday contest, however, the turnovers returned and ended up in the back of their net.

The Sharks entered the third period with more momentum then they’d had in the second, thanks to Logan Couture’s highlight-reel goal just 56 seconds before the second intermission.  But that didn’t stop the McDavid line from forcing a turnover, and powering ahead to get the tying goal.

Thornton's line stays hot

After helping Joe Thornton score his 400th career goal, linemates Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen told NBC Sports California what made their combination so successful. Both wingers agreed: Thornton is great at communicating on the ice.

That communication and chemistry was on full display when the line scored the Sharks' second goal of the game. Even though it looked as though Thornton wasn’t looking when he made his back-handed pass from behind Edmonton’s net, Sorensen was in perfect position for his wrist shot to elude netminder Mikko Koskinen.

It was a nifty way for Sorensen to notch his seventh point in eight games – and for Thornton to tie Mario Lemieux for 11th on the NHL’s all-time assists list.

Hertl looks strong in return to the ice

Despite getting tangled up with McDavid on the tying goal in the third period, Hertl looked solid in his return to the lineup Tuesday night.

Whatever was ailing the 25-year-old forward when he missed the last two games appeared to be mended in Tuesday’s game against the Oilers. No. 48 had a nice breakaway attempt, and drew a penalty in the first period.

He then set up Couture’s second-period goal with a nice dish through the neutral zone, before Couture skated around defender Adam Larsson to score San Jose’s third goal.

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