Calgary Flames’ Dougie Hamilton, center right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

The San Jose Sharks scored twice in the first period Wednesday night at Calgary, looking on the verge of scoring five goals in a third-straight game. Goaltender Chad Johnson and the Calgary Flames shut out the Sharks for the final 40 minutes though and tied the game in the 2^nd period before netting a goal in the final 2:19 of regulation to win the contest. Brent Burns and Logan Couture scored for San Jose, with Burns also picking up an assist. Joe Pavelski, Mikkel Boedker and Melker Karlsson also collected points.

Couture netted his 14^th goal of the season with the Sharks on the power play 9:40 into the game. San Jose cycled the puck to Burns at the point with the defenseman ripping a trademark wrist shot. Couture, planted in the high slot, redirected the puck on net past Johnson for a 1-0 lead.

Michael Frolik pulled Calgary even on his 11^th goal of the season after Deryk Engelland’s shot produced a juicy rebound the winger could tap home. Matthew Tkachuk assisted on the goal 11:22 into the period.

Burns put the Sharks ahead once again with 3:54 left in the first, ripping a physics-defying shot that appeared to curve around Melker Karlsson’s screen and bac akround Johnson for goal no. 17 for the bearded one. Karlsson and Boedker assisted on the goal.

Tkachuk, a 19-year-old rookie, continued to torment the Sharks. The forward scored the tying goal on the Flames man-advantage with 32 seconds left in the second. Tkachuk now has four points in three games against the Sharks this season.

The Flames struck late again in the third period after beleaguered defenseman Doug Hamilton banked a puck along from just off the wall off the pipe and in past Aaron Dell for his 7^th goal of the season. Despite giving up the goal, Dell 25 saves.

The Sharks played the majority of the game with only five defenseman after the Flames coaching staff pointed out a descepency between the pregame roster submitted and players on the ice. After taking warm-ups, Paul Martin was scratched for Mirco Mueller, however the official lineup did not reflect the scratch, forcing Mueller out of the game. The Sharks were down another d-man after Dylan DeMelo was injured in the 5-3 win over Edmonton Tuesday. Tim Heed made his NHL debut in Demelo’s place.

After battling a pair of Western Canadian foes, the Sharks return home for a pair of games against Central division opponents. Up first is a Saturday match-up against the team the Sharks eliminated from the Western Conference Final, St. Louis. Next is a Monday matinee contest against the Winnipeg Jets.