Devan Dubnyk made 44 saves, capped by the game-ending stop, as the last-placed Edmonton Oilers produced an unlikely 2-1 upset of the San Jose Sharks in a shootout Monday. San Jose dictated the play with a 45-18 advantage in shots, but behind Dubnyk's heroics the home team forced a shootout where they converted two attempts to the Sharks' one. Sam Gagner and Taylor Hall netted for Edmonton and Logan Couture's final attempt was saved in the fourth round to end the contest and snap the Oilers' three-game losing streak. “It was an important game for us,” Dubnyk told reporters. “We owe it to our fans to play better. “We don't have to win 41 games but you have to go out there and give them an effort. I want to show the Oilers that I am a starting goalie.” Jordan Eberle gave the home side a 1-0 advantage early in the second period before Couture evened the score in the third with his 21st goal of the season. The Sharks (26-14-6) fired 17 shots alone in the third, Dan Boyle leading the team with nine on the night, but could break the deadlock against Edmonton (18-26-4). The loss was San Jose's third in a row, dropping them into a tie with the Los Angeles Kings for first in the Pacific Division. Making matters worse, Sharks defenseman Brent Burns suffered a knee injury in the third period and had to be helped off the ice. “I don't know how bad it is yet,” said Burns, who collided with Edmonton's Ales Hemsky. “I tried to go down the wall and it was just a reaction play. I knew it wasn't good right away.” Thomas snubs White House visit Tim Thomas, one of only two Americans who played on last season's National Hockey League champion Boston Bruins, did not attend a White House ceremony Monday honoring the team's achievement. Goaltender Thomas insisted his decision to snub the ceremony with US President Barack Obama, a Democrat, was not a partisan gesture in favor of the opposing Republican party, but a decision based on his belief that the federal government has too much influence on American individuals' lives. “I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people,” Thomas said in a statement posted on NHL.com. He added that in his opinion, not just the president but he legislature and courts are at fault. Bruins general manager said the team wouldn't take any punitive action against Thomas. Thomas broke the NHL single-season save percentage record last season in leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoff Most Valuable Player in the process. Thomas, 36, went 16-9 in the playoffs with a 1.98 goals-against average. The Bruins defeated Vancouver four games to three in the best-of-seven final.
