Bryan Lerg scores in NHL debut to help Sharks beat Oilers 3-1
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Bryan Lerg scored in his NHL debut and the San Jose Sharks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 on Thursday night in a game between two teams out of the playoff picture.
Patrick Marleau and Matt Nieto also scored and Antti Niemi made 26 saves to help the Sharks snap a two-game losing streak.
Nail Yakupov scored for Edmonton and Laurent Brossoit made 49 saves in his NHL debut. The Oilers have lost four of five games.
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San Jose will miss the playoffs after qualifying for postseason play the last 12 seasons. The Oilers are on the outside for the ninth straight year.
Edmonton opened the scoring 8 1/2 minutes to play in the second period. Sharks defenseman Justin Braun lost to puck in the slot to Yakupov and he beat Niemi glove-side for his 13th of the season.
The Sharks tied the game midway through the third on their 42nd shot. Justin Schultz gave the puck away to Marleau, who waited for Brossoit to go down before lifting it over him.
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San Jose went up 2-1 with just under 3 minutes left. Logan Couture sent the puck through traffic to Lerg at the side of the net. Nieto added an empty-netter.
NOTES: The teams will complete their seasons on the road Saturday. The Oilers are in Vancouver, and the Sharks at Los Angeles. .. The 29-year-old Lerg finally got a shot in the NHL after playing 353 minor league games.