Sharks vs. Oilers: San Jose looks to continue their forward momentum in Game 5

The Sharks made a statement in Game 4 on Tuesday. They blew out the Oilers 7-0 to even the series and majorly shifted momentum back to their side.

Cam Talbot finally looked human in the loss, as he was in net for five of the seven goals against. San Jose went 4 for 8 on their power play as Edmonton’s youth and inevitable frustration at the score caught up to them in a snowball of a game.

Game 5, however, brings this series back to Edmonton and gives the Oilers the chance to settle this first round down once more.

The stars were out for the Sharks. Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns had three points. Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, and Joel Ward had two. Joe Thornton won 86 percent of his face-offs. After being shut out twice in two games, San Jose responded loudly to those that said their window had passed. After Tuesday, that’s clearly not the case.

Cam Talbot. How Talbot bounces back from his first dreadful performance in some time will be key for the Oilers. Talbot has been Edmonton’s work horse this year, as he played 73 regular season games. His first few saves in Game 5 will be a good indicator of where he is mentally after the beating on Tuesday.

How do the young Oilers respond? Talbot wasn’t the only one getting slapped around in Game 4. Connor McDavid and crew were run out of the building on Tuesday, and the energy back in Edmonton might just calm them down enough to get them back on their game.

The Sharks. San Jose builds on the momentum from Game 4 as the veterans start to pace themselves away from the kids, though Talbot has a solid game in net.