EDMONTON, Alberta, March 4 (UPI) -- Ryan Smyth scored once and set up Todd Marchant's go-ahead goal with 5:46 remaining Tuesday night as the Edmonton Oilers stopped a nine-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Fourth on the Oilers in scoring, Smyth missed nine games with a left shoulder injury. Edmonton seemed lost without one of its offensive leaders, going 0-5-2-2 to fall into a dogfight with Nashville for the final Western Conference's playoff spot.
Smyth's return helped pump some life into the Oilers. He opened the scoring 5:43 into the contest but saved his biggest play for the final minutes of the third period.
After rookie Ales Hemsky forced a turnover along the right boards just inside the San Jose blue line, Smyth and Marchant broke in on a quick 2-on-1.
Smyth skated down the left side and slid a pass to Marchant, who tapped the puck past Miikka Kiprusoff to break a 1-1 tie.
Tommy Salo made 26 saves for Edmonton, which moved four points ahead of Nashville.
