Don't attempt to understand the psychology of
professional hockey. A day after losing a couple of roster regulars at the NHL
trade deadline, and facing the 2nd best team in the West in the Calgary Flames,
the Sharks overcame a 3-1 deficit, scoring a pair of 3rd period goals to win
4-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome. It would have been easy to throw in the towel
after Sharks management suggested that was the approach after being sellers at
the deadline, but the Sharks overcame a little diversity for a night to win a
game they should have lost on paper.
Goaltender James Reimer had a lot
to do with the win. The netminder made 28 saves, but a couple of the
spectacular variety late in the game helped San Jose secure their 28th win of
the season.
The Flames jumped out to a 2-goal lead in a 4-minute span
early in the contest. After a Nicolas Meloche slashing penalty 4 minutes into
the contest, Johnny Gaudreau scored a power play goal 25 seconds into the power
play. Gaudreau stopped a rink wide pass from Mathew Tkachuk as he sat at the
bottom of the right circle, then picked a corner, beating Reimer for his 29th
goal of the season.
Dillon Dube scored moments later after the Sharks
failed to clear their own zone. Poor puck management ended with a deflection
lading on Dube's stick as he stood parked in the slot, cranking home his 8th of
the season.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic threw a seemingly harmless shot on net
from the left point, but the puck eluded Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Vlasic's shot slipped over Markstrom's right shoulder and in to the goal for
the defenseman's 2nd tally of the season.
Erik Karlsson's sloppy puck
handling burned the Sharks 4 minutes into the 2nd period. Mikeal Backlund
picked the defenseman's pocket right outside the San Jose blueline, then traded
passes with Gaudreau before slipping a shot between Reimer's pads for the 3-1
lead.
The game turned with 5 minutes to play in the period when Brent
Burns slashed Gaudreau on a breakaway chance, drawing a penalty shot chance for
the Flames. Reimer kept the Sharks close when he gloved Gaudreau's attempt on
the free shot.
San Jose went to work at that point, suddenly fueled by
Reimer's big save.
Timo Meier cut the Flames lead to 3-2 with 2:30
left in the period. Meier hunted down a deflection along the end line in the
right corner, then pivoted to face the net and whipped a shot that hit
Backstrom's left pad and deflected into the Calgary net for his002027th goal of
the season.
San Jose won the game by winning the 3rd period. Alexander
Barabanov scored his 10th goal of the season at 11:07. The Sharks cycled the
puck around the end boards before Tomas Hertl slid a pass out front where
Barabanov chipped it past Backstrom to tie the game at 3-3.
Logan
Couture scored the go-ahead goal on the next shift. The Sharks captain took a
Noah Gregor feed as he sliced toward the front of the net, putting a shot on
net that slid under Backstrom. The Flames netminder didn't see the puck which
was perched behind him, but his own skate helped push it over the goal line.
The on-ice officials went to video replay to confirm
the puck fully crossed the line, which was confirmed to give Couture his 21st
tally of the season.
Reimer made the save of the game in the final
minute as Calgary pushed to pot the equalizer. Gaudreau had a wide open net,
but Reimer stood tall and snuffed out the would be goal with a chest save.
Game Notes: * Sasha Chmelevski made his season debut
for the Sharks and was credited with the secondary assist on Couture's game
winner.
* Timo Meier needed help to the locker room with 6 minutes
left in the 3rd period. He appeared to hurt his left knee and did not return.
* The win marked the third straight win over Calgary this season. The
Sharks beat Calgary 4-1 in Alberta on November 9th, then beat them 5-3 at SAP
Center on December 7th. The Flames will visit San Jose for the series finale on
April 7th.
* With the Jake Middleton and Adam Cogliano trades, San
Jose recalled Ryan Merkley, Chmelevski and John Leaonard.
* Newly
acquired goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen is expected to start for San Jose in
Edmonton on Thursday.