Flames prolong level streak, preserve Sharks reeling

Jonathan Huberdau scored twice to lead the visiting Calgary Flames to a 3-1 victory over the struggling San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Goaltender Dustin Wolf — who hails from Gilroy, Calif., a half-hour drive from San Jose — made 21 saves in the win, including a handful late in regulation when the hosts made a frantic push for the equalizer.

Calgary has collected points in five consecutive games (3-0-2).

Mikael Backlund also scored and Nazem Kadri collected two assists for Calgary, which completes a quick two-game road trip Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Macklin Celebrini replied for the Sharks, who are winless in seven games (0-6-1). Goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopped 30 shots in an outstanding performance.

Backlund scored the eventual game-winning goal when he put the Flames ahead for the second time with a power-play tally at 6:50 of the second period. Kadri’s shot from the right circle was stopped, but Backlund was on the spot on the other side to bury the long rebound and make it a 2-1 score.

Huberdeau rounded out the scoring with a final-second empty-net goal, which came seconds after Wolf made a scintillating save on Mikael Granlund.

Thanks in huge part due to Askarov’s heroics, the clubs were tied 1-1 early in the second period.

Huberdeau opened the scoring at the 4:40 mark when he was parked at the front of the net and deflected MacKenzie Weegar’s point shot to net his sixth goal in an eight-game stretch. The Flames outshot the Sharks 16-1 over the final 14:06 of the first period.

Celebrini drew the hosts even with a power-play goal at 3:04 of the second period, converting a rocket of a one-timer from the right faceoff circle for his 12th goal of the season, the most this season among rookies.

The loss was a double disappointment for the Sharks. Carl Grundstrom left the game in the first period after being on the receiving end of a hard, clean check from Calgary’s Brayden Pachal.

–Field Level Media