SHARKS NIP FLAMES TO STAY ATOP NHL RANKINGS

The San Jose Sharks have been suffering with a spate of late season injuries, but despite their roster woes have managed to maintain their winning ways.  They’ve won 5 of their last seven games, and have been able to open up a margin over Detroit for Western Conference supremacy as they continue to hold the best record in the NHL.  On Tuesday night, the Sharks used solid defense and their usual stellar goaltending to earn a hard fought 2-1 road victory over the Calgary Flames.

Dan Boyle got the Sharks on the board first with his power play goal assisted by Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski at 6:11 of the first period.  The Flames’ franchise player would even the tally at the 15:09 mark as Jarome Iginla lit the lamp set up by Daymond Langkow and Dion Phaneuf.  The Sharks’ Jonathan Cheechoo would net what would prove to be the game winning goal assisted by Brad Lukowich, Joe Thornton midway through the second period. 

At this point, the Sharks’ tough defense and the exceptional goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov would take over for the remaining half of the contest.  San Jose held the Flames to 21 shots in the final two periods, with Nabokov stopping everything that did find its way on net.  Nabokov noted after the game that the team’s tactical strategies have changed somewhat which makes it easier to win ‘ugly games’ like this one:

"Anytime you don't have nine players, you want the other guys to step up and play well. Our system has changed a little bit, we're not as aggressive and we have to be a little bit smarter, and in a way, I think it's helped us."

Dan Boyle focused on the Sharks’ improved depth throughout the organization:

"We have a lot of new faces in here but what can you say, the depth of this organization is pretty strong.”

Flames’ coach Mike Keenen said that his team may have lack intensity due to the injuries throughout the San Jose lineup:

"I've always told our club and any club that I've ever coached, if you're playing against a team with a lot of injuries, often it's a very dangerous team because you have a lot of people, particularly this time of year, that are receiving more ice time than they ever expected.”

San Jose will play in Western Canada against on Thursday night as they face the Edmonton Oilers before returning home for a ‘home and home’ series against the Anaheim Ducks.  The two teams will play at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on Saturday night before heading south for a return date at the Honda Center on Sunday.  Calgary will hit the road for two games, at Dallas on Thursday and Minnesota on Friday before returning home to face the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.