The San Jose Sharks will take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight, March 17, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET at Rogers Place in Edmonton. This matchup is crucial for both teams as they vie for playoff positions in the Western Conference.
The Sharks enter the game with a record of 32-27-6, while the Oilers hold a slightly better record of 33-26-9. The Oilers are currently ranked seventh in the conference, just ahead of the Sharks, who sit in tenth place.
One of the key players for the Oilers, Connor McDavid, has been performing exceptionally well this season, accumulating 114 points in 68 games. However, the team will be without Leon Draisaitl, who is ruled out due to a lower body injury. Draisaitl is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, which could significantly impact the Oilers’ playoff hopes.
In addition to Draisaitl, the Oilers are also dealing with injuries to Yaroslav Askarov, who is day-to-day, and Ty Dellandrea, who is out with a lower body injury. This leaves the team in a challenging position as they prepare for the game.
On the Sharks’ side, Macklin Celebrini has been a standout player, contributing 95 points in 65 games. The Sharks will look to capitalize on the Oilers’ injury woes to secure a vital win.
In their last two seasons, the Oilers have a record of 7-6-1 when Draisaitl is out of the lineup, indicating that they have struggled to maintain consistency without him.
As the teams prepare for the game, Oilers coach Knoblauch emphasized the need for centers to step up in Draisaitl’s absence, stating, “We’ll definitely need centres to work in and out.” Meanwhile, Nugent-Hopkins noted the importance of a strong defensive mindset, saying, “Our mindset is checking. It’s going to be, and that’s what it has to be anyway, but especially with Leo out.”
The Oilers held an optional morning skate before the game, but details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for Draisaitl’s injury and the status of Alexander Wennberg, who is a game-time decision.
