Sharks Rally to Defeat Flames for Seventh Straight Win
Feb 8, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) skates with the puck ahead of Calgary Flames defenseman Scott Hannan (23) during the third period at HP Pavilion. Calgary defeated San Jose 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports
The San Jose Sharks (20-11-6) have extended their win streak to seven games following the win against the Calgary Flames (13-19-4). The win streak ties their season high with the run they went on to start the season.
It another thriller the San Jose Sharks took a page out of the San Francisco Giants’ book by waiting until late in the game to first tie, then win, the game. It was a great team effort that saw the Sharks outshoot the Flames 41-23 including 16-5 in the final period. Antti Niemi stayed strong in net all night once again and keeping the team in the game before San Jose’s offense finally woke up in the third period.
The win was another big one for the Sharks in the standings as they make their way into the fourth spot in the Western Conference. Although their late-season surge has helped mightily it still has them nine points beind the Anaheim Ducks who will more than likely win the division so fourth place will be the highest seed they can acheive for the post season. We’ll see how they hold up in these final 10 games of the season.
The scoring opened up in the first period when Michael Backlund scored just six seconds into their first power play of the night on a wrist-shot from the point. It looked as though Niemi was screened and had trouble seeing the puck the moment it left Backlund’s stick.
San Jose’s offense finally woke up in the third when Dan Boyle scored from below the slot after he got a nice feed from Logan Couture who found him open. Boyle proceeded to fire the wrist-shot by Miikka Kipprusoff at 2:40 into the period tying the game at one.
Their second goal of the period came with just over two minutes left when Joe Pavelski fired a puck into the net from a wide angle. The puck fell to him after Brent Burns drove to the net and fell. His skate accidentally kicked the puck over to Joe who buried the opportunity. T.J. Galiardi, who had a great game all the way around, got the secondary assist on the game-winning goal.
As the game came to a close the Flames pulled Kipprusoff with the hopes of scoring but Niemi was just too good to let that happen. The Flames did put a few good chances on net, but nothing good enough to prevent the Sharks from taking their sixth-straight win at home, and seventh overall. San Jose took the win 2-1.
GGS 3 Stars
1. Joe Pavelski (game-winning goal, 4 shots, 2 hits)
2. Antti Niemi (23 saves)
3. Miikka Kipprusoff (39 saves)