By Matthew T.F. Harrington
AP photo Calgary’s defenceman Mark Giordano does the victory lap at the Flames bench after scoring a first period goal against the Sharks on Thursday night
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The question for the San Jose Sharks Thursday night was which team would show up for their home tilt with the Calgary Flames. Would it be the meek outfit that suffered a 6-2 knockout against the Predators in Nashville Saturday night taking the ice? Or could Team Teal replicate the World-beater performance that resulted in a 2-0 shutout of the vaunted Blackhawks offense at the United Center Tuesday night?
The answer is both.
The Sharks stumbled in the 1st period, allowing 4 goals to the visiting team while netting only one of their own, but scored 4 unanswered goals to take a 5-4 lead. Calgary forced overtime then rode a surprise appearance by Sharks nemesis Jonas Hiller to a 6-5 shootout victory. Sharks center Logan Couture picked up points (1g, 3a).
“I felt good,” said Couture who has missed significant time this year dealing with a leg injury and complications. “It was one of those games where the puck followed me around. It would have felt a lot nicer if we got the win.”
Wayne Gretzky said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Thursday the Flames (25-25-3) missed on just under half of the first period shots they took against Sharks netminder Alex Stalock. Sam Bennett, Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund all scored in the opening stanza on 4 of Calgary’s total 9 shots.
The Sharks mostly rode the man-advantage to make up the difference over the final two-thirds of play, scoring 3 power play goals over 7 opportunities down the stretch.
“We had a feeling going out that something was going to get done,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “We battled all the way back. It was good to see some character.
Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau opened the scoring barrage in the 2nd period with a Flame stewing in the box. Couture potted his 5th of the season 48 seconds into the 2nd off a cross-ice feed from Brent Burns. Patrick Marleau tipped in a Joe Thornton shot-pass 11:17 into the frame for his 17th of the year. In total, the Sharks outshot the Flames 11-4 in a period in which Calgary picked up 6 penalty minutes.
San Jose completed the comeback 2:46 into the final period of regulation after Joonas Donskoi beat Kari Ramo for his 9th goal of the season. Just over 3 minutes later, Dylan DeMelo netted his 2nd career NHL goal on one of San Jose’s 9 power plays of the night to give the Sharks their first lead at 5-4 with just under 15 minutes to play.
The visitors would not be denied though, with defenseman Kris Russell taking a backdoor pass from Sam Bennett to tally his 4th of the year and knot the game 8:08 into the third. San Jose would have one last gasp in regulation.
With 3 minutes left Jonas Donskoi drove hard to the net, being tripped by Mark Giordano on the way in. Giordano collided with Ramo, forcing the starting netminder out of the game. During the same exchange, Sam Bennett elbowed Paul Martin, forcing Jonas Hiller to enter the game off the bench. Hiller dominated during the Sharks’ 5-on-3 power play, keeping the Flames in contention for two points.
“He played unbelievable,” said Couture of Hiller. “Kudos to him. He stepped in to a very difficult situation with the 5-on-3 and had some unbelievable saves. He basically saved them a couple points.”
“We thought we were going to get them,” added Pavelski. “When you get a 5-on-3 for two minutes. We just didn’t get things done. We felt we let one slip away.”
Hiller was equally as stout in the 3-on-3 overtime, flashing an athletic kick save amongst the 8 saves he made to force the game into a shootout. The Sharks also missed some opportunities by hitting a post and missing an open net when Hiller was pulled out of position.
“It’s tough,” said Couture. “I could have put the game away there. That one is going to keep me up tonight.”
The red hot Couture beat Hiller, the only Shark to do so in the skills competition. Joe Colborne answered, then Hiller stoned Donskoi , Joe Pavelski and Marleau. Jiri Hudler slid the puck past Stalock to take the contest for the Flames.
The Sharks next take the SAP ice facing Pacific Division rivals the Arizona Coyotes. That contest will be Saturday evening.
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