Marleau Carries Sharks

Patrick Marleau and the Sharks are off to another speedy playoff start.

The San Jose captain scored his eighth goal of the postseason and had an assist on Christian Ehrhoff’s go-ahead goal, leading the Sharks to a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Rookie Milan Michalek had two assists, and Vesa Toskala stopped 15 shots in his fifth consecutive victory for the Sharks, who took control of the series opener with a one-sided second period featuring the first playoff goal of Ehrhoff’s career.

San Jose then hung on against another late-game surge by the eighth-seeded Oilers, who thrived on the road and in tight games in their first-round upset of Detroit, capped by their four-goal third period in the clinching game.

The clubs won’t have much time to dwell on this one: They’re back in action for Game 2 tonight in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is at Edmonton on Wednesday night.

Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves for the Oilers, who went scoreless in the final 57 minutes 27 seconds after Jaroslav Spacek’s power-play goal.

Spacek scored his power-play goal only 2:33 in, and Edmonton’s team speed quickly caught the Sharks’ attention.

San Jose tied it five minutes later on a blast from the slot by Marleau, who scored seven goals in the five-game first round series against Nashville.