Sharks vs. Oilers Preview: A chance at history with Todd McLellan in the house

The Sharks’ last game before the All-Star break is anything but a getaway day. Patrick Marleau is just two goals away from No. 500 in his career as San Jose welcomes former head coach Todd McLellan and the surging Edmonton Oilers into town a day after the Oil knocked off the Anaheim Ducks in Orange County. Oh, and Tomas Hertl is likely to draw back into the lineup.

Did I mention San Jose can win its seventh game in a row? Yeah, it’s a pretty big night in San Jose.

The Sharks are 2-0 against the Oilers this season and can clinch the season series with a win against Edmonton tonight. A win for Edmonton can move the Alberta squad into a tie for first place, though San Jose will hold a game in hand after playing its 50th game of the season. It took a late tally from Patrick Marleau to give the Sharks their sixth-straight victory on Tuesday and even with Hertl back in the lineup tonight I doubt the game will get much prettier.

Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc were both sent to the American Hockey League on Wednesday, though neither played for the Barracuda against Stockton. My guess is it was just a paper transaction as the Sharks never sent out a press release about the move. As such, expect both to play for San Jose tonight.

Tickets are available to tonight’s game on StubHub for a reasonable price and if I was local, I’d be going. The fact that I’m not going makes it significantly more likely Marleau scores his 500th career goal, so I’d go ahead and purchase those tickets now before everyone else in the Bay Area wises up and does the same.

Anyway, you do you. Go Sharks.