@ 6:30 PST
48-20-10, 107 points		40-30-9, 89 points
1st in Western Conference		9th in Western Conference

So maybe San Jose can end Calgary’s tonight.

The Flames are currently two points out of the eight seed with three games left to play, chasing Colorado who has a game in hand. Furthermore, Daymond Langkow is out after being hit with a puck in the back of the neck two weeks ago against the Minnesota Wild, Chris Higgins is nursing a foot injury, and Curtis Glencross is unlikely to play as well. By my count those are three really big pieces to the Calgary penalty kill, which means San Jose’s power play should be dealing with some favorable conditions to start putting pucks in the net with the man advantage.

I like the idea of playing the Flames right now. At face value it’s a good test for the team as the playoffs approach; all of the “desperate team playing desperate hockey” lines will be in full force, especially against a Calgary team teetering on the brink of elimination. The atmosphere in the building always feels like a playoff game, the faithful always come out in those brilliant red sweaters, and the Flames always love to chip the puck in and try to bang the Sharks around.

Honestly, I think games against Calgary might be my favorite road games every year. Something thrilling about the Saddledome.

Prediction: Sharks win 5-2. Goals by the big guns.

Go Sharks.