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TSN Edmonton Bureau Reporter

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Some thoughts from Game 3 of the Western Conference quarter-final between the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night:

- Zack Kassian was notably less physical in Game 3 (The stats sheet showed three hits as opposed to six from Game 2).  He spent less time chasing out of position to make big hits and later told TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that it was a necessary adjustment in a game that was much tighter checking and defensive. He didn't want to make the positional mistake that led to the go-ahead goal. He played a patient game for an aggressive player and it paid off.

- The Sharks are doing an excellent job controlling Connor McDavid so far in this series (no 5-on-5 points and just six shots). He's scored once in three games and added an indirect assist off a shot he took. He’s had several strong rushes to the net and made some nice plays that weren't converted, but he has yet to hit top gear for any length of time and that’s a victory for the Sharks. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun continue to face him for the bulk of his 5-on-5 minutes and are cutting down his time with the puck playing tight to him. Head coach Todd McLellan hasn't made a significant effort to shield McDavid from that matchup so far.

- Leon Draisaitl played just 3:38 in the second period after McLellan moved him onto Kassian and Drake Caggiula's line (normally averages about 6:20 per period). His feet were a bit sluggish in the early going and when this happens, a move to centre usually remedies it as he has to cover more area in a shift.  It also forced him to dump the puck in more. He rarely likes to do this, preferring to make plays at the offensive blue line. Kassian and Caggiula are forecheckers, so Draisaitl kept it simple and got pucks deep, including on the game-winner which began with his dump in. It will be interesting to see if he starts Game 4 back on McDavid’s wing, or at centre.

- Cam Talbot has stopped 39 straight shots, yet hasn’t appeared to be spectacular in doing so.  Yes, the Oilers have done a good job defensively, but Talbot has been steady and composed giving up few second chance rebounds. When he's dialed in, he doesn't need to be diving around much and doesn't make as many highlight reels.

- Patrick Maroon hasn’t been very effective through three games.  The Sharks defence are quick at retrieving pucks in their own end and Maroon hasn't been able to impose himself physically on the forecheck the way he normally does.  The Braun/Vlasic blanket that's been thrown on McDavid is the same one Maroon is having to fight through and he hasn't been able to generate much offence so far. (no points and six shots)

- Darnell Nurse and Matt Benning found themselves under fire a lot more in Game 3 than in Game 2 and got into some trouble with long shifts.  Nurse had four shifts in the second period that were over a minute long, along with two that were over 100 seconds. The long change proved to be problematic.

Game 4 in San Jose is on Tuesday. Get all your updates on this series from myself and TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger on SportsCentre, Tim Hortons That’s Hockey and TSN.ca.