SJS vs CAL

SAN JOSE - The Calgary Flames won the battle for shot-clock supremacy.

You can debate they claimed the scoring chance ledger, too.

However, the San Jose Sharks came out on top where it counted most Thursday night, earning a 4-3 victory that has them one victory away from dispatching the Flames from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Down by one midway through the second period, the Sharks rattled off four straight goals and then hung on for the win. By winning two straight games - the first time that’s happened in this series - the Sharks have a 3-2 lead.

“You’re probably not going to win too many series if you don’t string at least a couple together,” said Sharks captain Patrick Marleau. “We were fortunate to get one tonight. The next one is going to be the toughest.”

San Jose will try to finish off the Flames Sunday night in Calgary.

After a disappointing loss in which they managed only 10 shots on goal and surrendered a pair of late goals to fall 3-2, the Flames came out with a solid effort, but a pair of big mistakes early in the third period proved very costly.

“A tough one. There were a couple of breakdowns that cost us,” said centre Stephane Yelle. “We kept fighting and I thought it was one of our best games so far.

“We came out good, were physical and got shots on net, but a couple of breakdowns ended up in our net and that made the difference.

“The guys kept fighting and two goals made it close but we ran out of time.”

After Jarome Iginla opened the scoring early in the middle period, San Jose staked itself to a 4-1 lead thanks to a pair of goals by Jonathan Cheechoo and singles from Marleau and Joe Pavelski.
Daymond Langkow and David Moss scored in the third period to draw within one but couldn’t net the equalizer.

“Unfortunately we didn’t get it done tonight, but we’re going to do more of the same and go re-group and just get ready for Game 6,” Iginla said. “We really believe we can get Game 6 and we come back here for Game 7.”

While the Flames continue to search for production from the likes of Kristian Huselius, Alex Tanguay, Craig Conroy and Matthew Lombardi, the Sharks seem to be rolling because more of its second-tier players have stepped forward.

“I don’t know how much scoring depth we have, we’re a little bit top heavy at times,” said Sharks coach Ron Wilson. “Scoring comes and goes, you have to be a little bit lucky. Goal scoring is about being patient, being the right spot and being in the play. It’s not being in a hurry to get somewhere.”