Flames: 13-8-2, 28 points, 3rd in division, 5th conference, 9th league
Sharks: 10-9-4, 24 points, 5th in division, 10th conference, 18th league
The Honda Center curse lives on. How else can you explain a team outshooting and out-chancing a great team like the Ducks and coming out empty handed. They had a goal off a defenseman's skate, a puck land right on Perry's stick in the slot which he barely got enough of to score, and a weak goal through the pads that Hiller normally stops. The Flames managed to score 2 very good goals and another that was called back because of a kick. The only issues the Flames had in their own zone all night were when Getzlaf and Perry were on the ice, and we aren't the only team to experience that problem, as those are two elite forwards.
So the Flames move on to the Shark Tank, AKA the SAP Center which doesn't have the same ring to it. It's a building that the Flames managed to…not pick up a single point last year, and they haven't won there since February of 2012 (yikes). However, the Flames did manage to win 2 of the 5 games last year against the Sharks. Each team had a convincing regulation win and a OT/SO win, and the third game was a closely contested 3-2 loss for the Flames.
The Sharks might feel like the road team tonight anyways, since they've only played 7 of their 23 games in their home building so far this year. That might have something to do with why they look so mediocre this year. Ranked 18th in GF/G and 15th in GA/G, they are the very definition of a middling team. The goalies have been decent this year. None of the 3 have a Sv% under .915 or a GAA over 2.60. I would even argue that the leaders and high end talent have been good, as the top 5 of Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Pavelski, and Burns all have 18 points or more. The problem with this team is zero depth. Their bottom 6 forwards and bottom 4 defensemen have been a whole lot of "meh". This is also a team that has been poor 5 on 5 with a 0.86 F/A ratio ranking 24th. They've been compensating a lot with their power play, which is operating at a blistering 23.3% good for 4th in the league. When you combine that with the Flames awful PK operating at 73.8% (29th in the league), it's a recipe for disaster. This is a team the Flames will have to do what they did against Anaheim last night, don't take any penalty that results in a shorthanded situation. The Sharks PK has been solid at 82.6%, giving their special teams a combined percentage of 105.9%.
The Flames offense has been chugging along nicely. Glencross continues his point production with an assist last night as did Giordano. TJ Brodie had a nice night with a goal and an assist. His goal pushed him to 5 for the year which is already more than his tally for all of last season. Clearly he's been listening to his coaches who want him to shoot more. Gaudreau and Granlund had a less than spectacular night. Even though they managed to draw a few of penalties, they finished the night with no points and both were -2. The Flames need to tighten up their defense as their numbers have been in free fall of late. They were top 10 not a couple weeks ago and have plummeted to 20th in GA/G with 2.74. The goalies, who were so good to start the year, have to start shutting the door and definitely stop giving up weak goals. Ramo got the win in the last game, but he still allowed 4 goals, not getting a whole lot of help from the defense. Sure, the amount of rookies in the lineup is going to lead to more mistakes, but there needs to be a stronger commitment to their own zone and getting the puck out with more urgency. However, some of the rooks played well. Baertschi was creating plenty of chances in a limited 4th line role and Knight had some strong play with a few decent shots and a 100% FO percentage.
Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Bouma
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Ferland-Jooris-Byron
Baertschi-Knight-Bollig
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland
Ramo
Sharks
Marleau-Thornton-Hertl
Nieto-Couture-Pavelski
Goodrow-Sheppard-Wingels
McGinn-Desjardins-Kennedy
Burns-Vlasic
Braun-Mueller
Dillon-Tennyson
Niemi
Go Flames Go!!!