SAN JOSE, Calif. _ San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl attracted a crowd after he threw a hip check on Connor McDavid in the second period of Tuesday night's game with the Edmonton Oilers.
When he got out of the penalty box, he skated toward the front of the Oilers' net and found himself all alone as he tapped in a pass from Erik Karlsson past goalie Mike Smith.
Hertl was one of six players to score at SAP Center for the Sharks, who continued their recent and somewhat remarkable metamorphosis with a 6-3 pasting of the Pacific Division-leading Oilers.
Brent Burns, Evander Kane and Patrick Marleau scored in the first period and Barclay Goodrow also scored in the second as the Sharks won their fourth straight to close out a six-game homestand with a 4-2 record.
Karlsson had three assists, Logan Couture added two and Martin Jones made 21 saves as the Sharks, who had a five-game losing streak from Oct 25 to Nov. 2, improved to 8-10-1 overall
With just under five minutes left in the second period, Hertl caught McDavid with a hip check in the neutral zone. Zack Kassian and Brandon Manning responded and went right at Hertl near the Sharks blue line.
Goodrow also joined in and broke off with Manning, as the two engaged in a spirited fight at center ice. Both received five minute majors, but Manning also received a game misconduct.
Goodrow assisted on Timo Meier's third period goal, completing the Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist and a fight.
Hertl was given interference minor at the 15:27 mark of the second, After he came out of the penalty box, Karlsson, who had the puck inside the Oilers blue line, patiently waited for Hertl to get to the net. He then fed Hertl a perfect pass, as Hertl scored his eighth of the season at the 17:34 mark of the second.
After losses to Winnipeg and Vancouver to start their homestand, the Sharks responded with victories over Chicago, Minnesota and Nashville before they took on the Oilers.
The Sharks knew that if they were to have any success slowing down Edmonton, it first had to figure out a way to contain McDavid and Draisaitl, who had a combined 64 points coming into Tuesday.
