PRE-GAME REPORT: Oilers at Sharks

SAN JOSE, CA - Evander Kane will make his return to San Jose for the first time as a member of the Blue & Orange on Monday night when the Edmonton Oilers open back-to-back road games in California against the Sharks.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet One or listen on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED.
Video: OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game at SJ 02.14.22

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY VIDEO
OILERS TODAY | Pre-Game at SJ
PRE-GAME RAW | Coach Woodcroft
PRE-GAME RAW | Kane
RECENT VIDEOS
THE PANEL | Woodcroft's Debut
HIGHLIGHTS | EDM 3, NYI 1
OILERS TODAY | Post-Game vs. NYI
RAW | Evander Kane
BY THE NUMBERS
Oilers Statistics
Sharks Statistics
Stats Comparison
Game Notes
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
BLOG: Painting the picture
BLOG: Saturday's practice at Rogers Place
GAME RECAP: Oilers 3, Islanders 1
VIEWING INFORMATION
You can watch Monday's game on Sportsnet One at 8:30 PM MT.
News and notes from Oilers practice at Rogers Place on Saturday, where Jay Woodcroft began implementing his plan as Head Coach during his first full practice with the group.
**>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE OILERS BLOG**
SAN JOSE, CA - It's nothing more than just another game for Oilers forward Evander Kane.
The former player of four seasons with the San Jose Sharks isn't sure what kind of reception he'll receive Monday night when he returns to the SAP Center for the first time as a member of the Edmonton Oilers, but it won't matter.
"Honestly, not that much," Kane said on the emotions of returning to San Jose. "It's funny, the coaches asked me yesterday and I really haven't given much thought to it."
What matters most to the 30-year-old now is the success of his new club and earning the two points in the first game of a back-to-back California trip that begins Monday night for the Oilers in the Shark Tank against a Pacific Division opponent.
"I've kind of moved on, so I'm happy where I'm at and looking forward to the game tonight," he said. "I'm just looking forward to getting out there and getting a win."
The Oilers will play two of three-straight games against direct competition for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division on this quick two-game road trip, and will have the opportunity to leapfrog the Los Angeles Kings into third place in the division with a victory on Tuesday night if they can take care of business in Kane's return to face his former team.
In six games as a member of the Oilers, Kane has contributed in a top-six and top-powerplay role with two goals and two assists while working back towards 100 per cent after missing extended time earlier in the regular season.
"It's a big road trip. Two divisional opponents that are right in the thick of things," Kane said. "We have some games in hand, so we want to use those to our advantage."
Video: PRE-RAW | Evander Kane 02.14.22
Jay Woodcroft, who's spent less time in Edmonton than Kane over the last two-and-a-half weeks after being named Head Coach of the Oilers on Thursday, likes a lot of what he's seen both on and off the ice from the forward when it comes to his play and ability to block out the noise.
"For me, I've been nothing but impressed with Evander Kane," Woodcroft said. "I think he's single-minded in his purpose, and that's to get a win tonight for the Edmonton Oilers. That's what he's about, and I'm sure he's excited to play in San Jose. But like I said, I know that he's single-minded in his purpose, which is for our team to get two points tonight."
Woodcroft has spoken over the few days of his brief tenure so far as head coach about building relationships with the players, both new and old, that occupy the Oilers dressing room. Kane, as a new arrival having yet to play under Woodcroft, has been a big admirer of the bench boss' man-management approach.
"Good energy. Really cognizant with what's going on with the individual guys and the group," Kane said. "I think he's come in on a really short period of time and put his touch on the group pretty quickly, so it's been good to see. I'm sure that's going to continue as we go along here."
KANE TALKS CENTRES
As a player who's spent the entirety of his six games with the Oilers in a top-six and top-powerplay role, one thing Kane has been caught off guard by is Leon Draisaitl's ability on his backhand.
"In practice he has a couple of times. It's incredible," Kane said. "He passes the puck probably better on his backhand than most guys do on their forehand when it comes to 90 per cent of the league, so he's a real talent when it comes to that skill."
After starting on the wing of Connor McDavid, Kane has spent the last two games on the German's left flank with Kailer Yamamoto on his opposite side. What's been a nice transition for Kane, or lack thereof, has been the consistency for him to play his own game as he slowly gets his feel back for the speed of the NHL game.
"Not really for me," Kane said of adjusting his game for the two centres. "They're obviously different players, but possess a lot of the same qualities in what they can bring on the ice. I don't have to change too much."
The centre depth of the Oilers that includes McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins was one of the biggest selling points for signing a one-year contract in Edmonton.
Video: PRE-RAW | Jay Woodcroft 02.14.22
"It's a great opportunity," he said. "Obviously that was one of things I looked at when making a decision why I thought Edmonton would be a great fit; the depth they have at centre. It makes it a lot easier to play and fit in for sure.
"It starts at centre a lot of times when you're building teams, and we have three of the best. That definitely makes us optimistic."
Kane, in his single-minded approach, is focused on how he can help fill the gaps between the Dynamic Duo and the rest of the roster to help drive the success of the Oilers.
"Obviously we have two of the best players in the world, and I think if the rest of us can get it together and contribute in impactful ways to help them, I think we give ourselves a good chance to win every night."
LINEUP NOTES
Stuart Skinner was in the starter's net at this morning's pre-game skate and will look to earn his third-straight road win when he leads the Oilers out onto the ice at the SAP Center on Monday.
"I think we're playing a lot of hockey over the next period of days, and we have full confidence in Stuart Skinner," Woodcroft said. "For us, it was a good opportunity for him to get into the game and help our team win."
Woodcroft has plenty of familiarity with Skinner from four seasons together in Bakersfield, where the young netminder grew under Woodcroft from a raw goaltending prospect into an NHL netminder ready to take on more responsibility.
Skinner has won three of his last four starts and leads the Oilers netminders in save percentage (.908) and even-strength save percentage (.915).
Video: THE PANEL | Woodcroft's Debut
"Obviously with Stuart, he's somebody that I've had a relationship with over the last four years," Woodcroft said. "I've seen him progress over those four years into growing into the goalie he is today. I've been part of teams where he's won a lot of games for those teams, and so I have full confidence in his ability. He's taken a bit of a step this year to play more games in the NHL, and I think he gives our team a chance to win tonight."
An unchanged lineup of 11 forwards and seven defencemen tonight will include Tyler Benson for the second-straight game after the winger played strongly on Friday in his first contest since January 22 after being a healthy scratch for six-straight games.
"Tyler I thought skated well, number one, and made plays with the puck," Woodcroft said. "He finished a plus in the game and was on the ice for our winning goal, and similar to Stuart, I have a relationship with Tyler that goes back years. I've seen his development as a player, and him being in the lineup means that I believe he can help our team win."
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com
OILERS vs. SHARKS
STREAM: 8:30 p.m. MT; televised on Sportsnet West
Oilers Team Scope
Jay Woodcroft earned his first NHL victory behind the bench on Friday night after the Oilers defeated the New York Islanders 3-1 at Rogers Place in the 45-year-old's debut as head coach.
Woodcroft became the fifth coach in franchise history to win his NHL coaching debut, while Zach Hyman notched his 100th NHL goal in the victory. Mike Smith continued to build his game following a thumb injury by turning in a stellar 37-save performance for his first win since October 16.
Back-to-back road games for the Edmonton Oilers begin Monday night in San Jose when forward Evander Kane makes his first trip to the SAP Center in Blue & Orange to face the Sharks after spending parts of four seasons in southern California with the club.
"Just a great opportunity to get another two points, and obviously, we play them more than once the rest of the way," Kane said following Saturday's practice. "I think we have four games against them, so it'll be fun to be a part of those games.
"I'm familiar with how they operate and how they play, so I'll try and use that to my advantage."
Sharks Team Scope
Monday will see the Sharks return to action and begin a three-game homestand against the Oilers on Monday in their first game in nearly two weeks following a delayed resumption of their schedule after the NHL All-Star break. San Jose last played on February 2 when they dropped a 3-2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Timo Meier owns the outright lead in points for the Sharks with 21 goals and 47 points in 41 games, but has failed to register a point in his last four games. Former Norris winner and star defenceman Erik Karlsson remains out following surgery to repair a torn forearm muscle in late January and will be re-evaluated in mid-March.
The Sharks are 22-20-4 this season and will try to avoid a season-worst four-game winless streak.
By The Numbers
The Oilers have a point in a season-high four straight road games, going 3-0-1 and outscoring opponents 17-10... Connor McDavid has recorded at least one goal in all three of Edmonton's previous three road wins... Leon Draisaitl has five goals in his last five road games... Kane parts of four seasons with Sharks from 2017-21, recording 166 points (87 G, 79 A) in 212 games including three 20-goal seasons... He has four points (2G, 2A) in six games with the Oilers...
Edmonton remains the only undefeated team in NHL when scoring first (13-0-0), but have done it a league-low 13 times... The Oilers have at least a point in seven of their last nine games (6-2-1)... The Oilers had allowed more than two goals in 28-straight games before Friday's 3-1 win over the Islanders...
The Sharks have won nine of their last 11 games against the Oilers, going 9-1-1 and outscoring them 54-34... San Jose has scored at least five goals in seven of their last 11 games versus Edmonton... Brent Burns has 11 assists in his last 13 games...
Injury Report
OILERS - Kris Russell (undisclosed) is on IR; Mikko Koskinen (COVID-19 Protocol) is day-to-day; Duncan Keith (upper body) is out 2-to-4 weeks; Zack Kassian (fractured jaw) is out 4-to-8 weeks.
SHARKS - Kevin Labanc (dislocated shoulder) is on IR; Erik Karlsson (torn forearm muscle) is on IR; Jaycob Megna (fractured foot) is on IR.
-- Jamie Umbach, EdmontonOilers.com