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Oilers need to ‘stay out of the box’ against Sharks

San Jose Sharks v Edmonton Oilers - Game One

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 12: Zack Kassian #44 of the Edmonton Oilers skates off as Joel Ward #42 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates a goal in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 12, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

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It was a spirited Edmonton team that made its long-awaited return to the playoffs.

Perhaps a bit too spirited.

The aggressive Oilers ended up shorthanded six times against the Sharks, whose comeback Wednesday started with a power-play goal early in the second period.
Stream Sharks vs. Oilers on NBC Sports

It wasn’t just the goal that hurt the Oilers, either. It was all the time they had to spend on the kill.

“We went over why the game turned, and it’s pretty simple,” forward Jordan Eberle said, per the Edmonton Journal. “We got caught a lot with long shifts and just didn’t have any energy. You get a guy like Brent Burns spending 10 minutes on the power play, it’s not going to help your cause.”

The Oilers led 2-0 after 20 minutes of Game 1. But the Sharks were in control from the second period onward, and they eventually won it, 3-2, in overtime.

Game 2 goes tonight in Edmonton.
“We’ve got to stay out of the box,” said Eberle.