Injuries and experience viewed the keys as Oilers face Sharks in NHL playoffs
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers return to the NHL playoffs Wednesday against the battled-hardened Western Conference-champion San Jose Sharks in a series expected to turn on experience —and injuries.
Centres Joe Thornton and Logan Couture are day-to-day with injuries for the Sharks, who ended the last three weeks of the regular season in freefall.
“They’re missing a couple of key guys and they make a world of difference,” said centre Connor McDavid after Edmonton wrapped up its regular season second in the Pacific Division.
Couture has been skating but is still in pain after being drilled in the face by a redirected Brent Burns slapshot March 25. Thornton injured his left knee in a collision a week ago against the Vancouver Canucks.