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Oilers play host to disappointing Sharks

Apr 9, 2015 - 3:00 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers put a major dent in the defending Stanley Cup champions' playoff hopes the last time out, but there is nothing to spoil in Thursday's home test against the San Jose Sharks.

Several days after getting embarrassed 8-2 by Los Angeles, the Oilers exacted revenge on the Kings with Tuesday's 4-2 victory at Rexall Place. Combined with other developments in the Western Conference playoff race, the loss put L.A.'s postseason chances in serious doubt.

The Sharks were clinging to slim playoff odds a few days ago, but those dreams ended after Monday's 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. San Jose had a 10-season playoff streak ended and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

The Oilers lost by six goals in Los Angeles last Thursday, but got payback for that lopsided setback in Tuesday's home game. Edmonton, the last-place club in the conference, had gone 14 straight meetings without a regulation win over L.A. before recording the shocking victory.

Richard Bachman made 25 saves, Matt Fraser scored twice, and Benoit Pouliot and Tyler Pitlick also lit the lamp to help the Oilers snap a three-game skid.

"We wanted a little redemption from last week," Fraser said. "It felt good to play the spoiler."

Drew Doughty scored on a seemingly innocuous shot from center ice with 10:22 remaining to pull the Kings within 3-2, but they never found the equalizer. Fraser then potted an empty-netter to seal L.A.'s fate just before the final horn.

Tonight marks the home finale for the Oilers, who will end their season Saturday in Vancouver. Edmonton is 15-22-3 as the host this season.

San Jose has lost two straight and yielded five goals in both setbacks. After dropping Saturday's 5-3 decision in Arizona, the Sharks fell behind three goals against the Stars on Monday before getting on the board.

Joe Thornton supplied San Jose's lone goal, while Alex Stalock stopped 20 shots in the setback. The loss came in the home finale at the SAP Center and dropped the Sharks to 19-17-5 as the host.

"We weren't good enough at home and that's probably what ended up costing us," Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said.

Even a victory on Monday wouldn't have kept San Jose alive in the playoff race, as both Dallas and the Sharks were eliminated from contention in the West following Winnipeg's victory over Minnesota earlier on Monday.

The Sharks will close the season Saturday in Los Angeles. They own a 20-15-4 road mark.

Edmonton and San Jose each have two wins against each other in the season series and the Oilers posted a 5-4 shootout victory when the clubs last met on Feb. 2 at the Shark Tank. The Oilers have claimed two of the last three home meetings.

Antti Niemi will start in net for the Sharks and boasts a 10-1 in this series, going 10-1-2 record and a 2.55 goals against average in his career against Edmonton.

The Oilers loaned Bachman to Oklahoma City of the AHL on Wednesday and will go with Laurent Brossoit as the starter tonight. Brossoit is set to make his NHL debut and will be backed up by Curtis Hamilton, who also was recalled from Oklahoma City. Like Brossoit, Hamilton has never seen action in an NHL game.