Sharks vs. Flames Preview: Looking for a bounce-back performance

San Jose won’t have long to lick its wounds after a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. The Sharks get right back at it in a 6 p.m. contest against the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome.

Calgary fell flat against the Kings on Wednesday night in a 4-1 loss that featured some fireworks from noted-friend-maker Matthew Tkachuk but not much offense from the Flames. The team has played well of late, posting impressive possession numbers, and will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing effort against Los Angeles.

San Jose is 1-2 against the Flames this year with two games to play this season. The Sharks wrap up the season series against the Alberta club on the final day of the regular season. They’ve outshot the Flames in two of the three games (and were outshot by just one in the third) and both losses have come by only one goal.

Strong goaltending by the Flames in those two wins tells some of the story (.927 save percentage in the victories) as does not-so-great netminding by the Sharks (.880). So San Jose will look to do a little better in that department while also, you know, looking to right the ship in the myriad ways its run aground over the past two weeks.

Aaron Dell will almost certainly get the start in goal after Martin Jones played between the pipes against the Oilers. The Alberta native allowed three goals on 28 shots in his only appearance against the Flames this year in San Jose’s 3-2 loss to Calgary back on Jan. 11.