Oilers beat Sharks to take firstround series in six games

SAN JOSE, Calif. Leon Draisaitl isn’t going to settle on a first-round victory.

Two breakaway goals in less than a minute proved to be the difference Saturday night as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 and advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The goals by Draisaitl and Anton Slepyshev came 56 seconds apart, and Oilers goalie Cam Talbot made 26 saves for the Game 6 victory.

“It feels great,” Draistail said of the series victory in Edmonton’s first playoff appearance since 2006.

“You know, there’s only eight teams left and we’re one of them. This organization needed this and I think we deserve it. We played good all year, but we’re not done yet.”

Veteran Patrick Marleau scored the lone goal for San Jose with 7:48 left in the game while Oilers star Connor McDavid hit the empty net with less than a second remaining. Beating San Jose earned the Oilers a second-round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Oilers victory took on added significance as the Sharks were the defending Western Conference champions after reaching the Stanley Cup final for the first time a year ago. Much was made of the gap in playoff experience between the veteran Sharks and the much younger Oilers.

“I think we’re more mature than people give us credit for,” said McDavid.