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Sharks lack fire in
Calgary Offense sputters against another
doormat
Don't worry they said. The Sharks had back to back
games against the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, two teams that others
have feasted on this season. So much for that theory. Kicking off a quick
two-game road trip through the province of Alberta, San Jose sputtered to a 2-1
shutout loss to the Flames at the Saddle Dome on Monday night. San Jose turned
in 20 minutes of hockey then limped to the overtime and shootout. By virtue of
not losing in regulation, the Sharks earned a point to qualify them for the
playoffs. The accomplishment was tempered with the fact that they lost to one
of the worst teams in the NHL.
* The rigors of the packed post-Olympic
NHL schedule appears to be wearing on the Sharks, who looked lifeless against a
Flames team that has recorded a paltry 67 points in the Pacific Division
standings. San Jose by comparison sits at the top of the Pacific Division with
101 points, a whopping 34 more points than Calgary. Yet, San Jose still figured
out how to lay an egg.
* James Sheppard and Matt Nieto, two of San
Jose's younger players seemed to be the only players on the ice who had any pep
in their step. The two combined to get the Sharks their only goal of the night.
Nieto raced up the ice late in the opening period, crossing with Sheppard as
the two converged on the net. Nieto uncorked a shot that hit Sheppard in the
back. The forward gathered Nieto's shot and lifted a shot from the left side
for his 4th goal of the season.
* Sheppard's goal would be the only
puck Flames goaltender Karri Ramo let past him. Ramp finished the evening with
33 saves and another 3 in the shootout.
* San Jose lost Logan Couture
for a majority of the game after the forward blocked a shot in the 2nd period.
He would limp off the ice for repairs. He tried to return in the 3rd, but was
hobbled enough to call it a night early in the period.
* San Jose did
little to help goaltender Alex Stalock late in the 2nd period, when the Flames
turned a 5 pass sequence into a goal. Joe Colborne converted a long Tyler
Wotherspoon pass past Stalock with a shot from outside the right post at 18:11.
* Stalock stoned Jiri Hudler on a wild sequence midway
through the 3rd period, extending his right led pad to cut off what would have
been a sure goal had the netminder not made the spectacular save.
*
Havlat hit the post with 11 minutes left in regulation, which is as close to
scoring as the Sharks would come over the last 45 minutes of play.
*
Mike Cammalleri was the only player to score in the shottout, snapping a long
shot after racing in on Stalock from the right side. Patrick Marleau, Joe
Pavelski and Sheppard all missed after electing to crawl toward the net with
painfully slow approaches. Ramo had all day to setup for all three shooters,
handling each with ease. Cammalleri was the first shootout goals scored against
Stalock in 13 chances. Ramo had entered the game with a 1-7 career record in
the shootout.
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What did you
think of this story? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
SO |
T |
SJ |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
CGY |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
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1st period - 1, SJ,
Sheppard 4 (Nieto, Boyle), 18:11. |
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2nd period - 2, CGY,
Colborne 9 (Wotherspoon, Glencross), 18:00. |
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Shootout - CGY:
Colbourne (miss), Hudler (miss), Cammalleri (goal). SJ: Marleau (miss),
Pavelski (miss), Sheppard (). |
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1st period - Thornton,
SJ (hooking), 1:57; Colborne, CGY (hooking), 9:56; Boyle, SJ (hooking),
15:58. |
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2nd period - Smid, CGY
(interference), 14:09. |
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3rd period - Thornton,
SJ (hooking), 0:10. |
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Shots |
Saves |
SJ - Stalock |
27 |
26 |
CGY - Ramo |
34 |
33 |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
T |
SJ |
18 |
4 |
10 |
2 |
34 |
CGY |
8 |
12 |
5 |
2 |
27 |
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Referees: Jackson,
Lemelin. Linesmen: Cherrey, Henderson. |
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