EDMONTON, Alberta _ Melker Karlsson scored the biggest goal of his career Wednesday night, burying a pass from Patrick Marleau to give the San Jose Sharks a stirring 3-2 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers in the playoff opener for both teams.
Karlsson's goal came at the 16:38 mark of overtime, as the Sharks erased a two-goal Edmonton first-period lead to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is Friday in Edmonton, with the Sharks now having a chance to take a stranglehold on the first-round series.
The Sharks had a first period to forget but found a rhythm in the second period, with Joel Ward's power play goal helping to change the momentum.
Joonas Donskoi collected a puck behind the Oilers' net that had been rimmed around the boards by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Donskoi then carried the puck in front and, with a backhand pass, found Ward for a tap-in goal at the 1:43 mark to cut Edmonton's lead to one.
The Sharks largely dominated the second half of the second period, outshooting the Oilers 9-4.
Their work paid off with the tying goal at the 5:22 mark of the third period. Once again, the play came from behind the Oilers' net.
With four skaters aside, Tomas Hertl fought off a check from Oilers defenseman Kris Russell, took the puck in front and got a shot on Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot. Paul Martin came from the back side and tapped in the tying goal.
The Sharks continued to apply pressure throughout the third, and by the end of regulation time, were outshooting the Oilers 36-17 _ including a staggering 16-3 advantage in shots in the final 20 minutes.
The sold-out crowd, which was already revved up from seeing its first Oilers playoff game in 11 years, didn't need long to be sent into a frenzy.
The Sharks had a nightmare start as the Oilers struck for two first-period goals in the game's first 17:07, with Oscar Klefbom scoring at even strength and Milan Lucic connecting on the power play to give Edmonton a 2-0 lead.
Klefbom's goal put the Sharks in a 1-0 hole just 6:44 into the first period as his shot from just outside the slot got past Jones, sending the sold-out Rogers Place crowd into a frenzy.
The Oilers continued to dictate the pace in the early going. Lucic, who assisted on Klefbom's goal, added a power-play goal at the 17:07 mark.
Connor McDavid's, the NHL's leading point producer, also assisted on Lucic's goal. But the Sharks had to be happy with their overall play against the player who is likely to win the Hart Trophy this season as the league's MVP.
