Sharks win a white-knuckler against the Flames, 2-1

Guess earthquakes on game days are good luck now? Even if it couldn’t be felt in Calgary… directly.

Dan Boyle got the Sharks on the board during a 5-on-3, and Brad Lukowich* erased a tie in the second period to lead San Jose to a 2-1 victory. Evgeni Nabokov made 28 saves, all the more necessary considering the Sharks didn’t once outshoot the Flames in any of the three periods.

Lest I forget – you’re welcome, Canucks fans.

*Ok, technically it was Cheech – but we all know deep down it was Luko’s first goal as a Shark.

First Period Highlights

Around 1:15, Joe Thornton makes a nice defensive maneuver to keep the puck in Calgary’s zone; Jonathan Cheechoo doesn’t handle Thornton’s pass properly.
Brad Lukowich gets tossed into the boards – and disappears to the dressing room. Sharks fans moan (not Moen) en masse.
Craig Conroy gets called for hooking at 5:33, and three seconds later Adrian Aucoin hits the puck into the stands, earning a delay of game penalty. San Jose gets 1:57 of 5-on-3 time.
SCORE = Thornton sets up Dan Boyle from Kipper’s left, and the Sharks’ d-man one-times it for his 15th goal of the season, and first since February 13th. Joe Pavelski earns the secondary assist, at 6:11. On ice for San Jose = Boyle, Thornton, Pavelski, Setoguchi, and Ehrhoff. On ice for Calgary = Glencross, Sarich, and Regehr.
Thornton and Cheechoo try again – and Miikka Kiprusoff makes a great save, at 6:32.
Christian Ehrhoff blasts the puck from behind the blue line, straight to Kipper, at 11:13.
Jody Shelley gets rocked by Dion Phaneuf, who turns down a fight from Brad Staubitz.
Devin Setoguchi shows his stretching abilities in touching up at the line – by reaching four feet back with his leg. Watch the groin, buddy!
Christian Ehrhoff lays a hip check on Olli Jokinen – the two go at it, earning Ehrhoff a roughing minor, and Jokinen a cross-check, at 14:40.
SCORE = Twenty-nine seconds later, during the 4-on-4, Jarome Iginla makes use of the open ice provided by miscommunication between Boyle and Lukowich, and slams it past Nabokov from the left circle. Nabby had a piece of it, but failed to stop the game tying goal, at 15:09. Daymond Langkow and Dion Phaneuf earn the assists. On ice for Calgary = Iginla, Langkow, Phaneuf, and Leopold. On ice for San Jose = Pavelski, Michalek, Boyle, and Lukowich.
The linesmen fails to note that Brad Staubitz deftly keeps the puck onsides, and blows the play dead…
NERD NOTES FOR THE PERIOD
Shots = 8-8
Faceoff wins = 14-7, San Jose (!)
Hits = 10-14, Calgary
Blocked shots = Sharks block 7, Flames block 5
Giveaways = 2-2
Takeaways = 3-3
Note = Joe Thornton had a takeaway followed by a giveaway./

Second Period Highlights

Joe Thornton gets called for tripping Iggy Pop at 0:54. Certain Sharks TV commentators go nuts, asserting it is a bad call. The Sharks kill the penalty despite a couple of near-chances by Calgary.
Ryan Vesce decides against firing the puck on goal on account of the traffic in front, and goes for the pinpoint pass – to Calgary. Whoospie.
In an unrelated play, Nabokov slides to keep Langkow from receiving a pass at the crease.
In another Nabby highlight, the Sharks netminder batted the puck out of the air (and danger) with his blocker, with Flames swarming the goal.
SCORE = After Jarome Iginla turns the puck over, Joe Thornton brings it into Calgary’s end, where it eventually finds Brad Lukowich. Luko fires it from the blue line, and it deflects off Jonathan Cheechoo, at 12:24. Jumbo got the secondary assist. The goal is Cheechoo’s first in 17 games. On ice for San Jose = Cheechoo, Lukowich, Thornton, Roenick, and Boyle. On ice for Calgary = Jokinen, Bertuzzi, Iginla, Phaneuf, and Leopold. Aren’t ya glad Luko wasn’t injured too badly in the first? Phew…
NERD NOTES FOR THE PERIOD
Shots = 4-9 Calgary (12-17 total)
Faceoff wins = 8-8 (22-15 total, San Jose)
Hits = 6-7 Calgary
Blocked shots = Sharks block 5, Flames block 3
Giveaways = 1-3 Calgary
Takeaways = 2-3 Calgary/

Third Period Highlights

Jonathan Cheechoo works hard behind Kipper’s net to pursue the puck carrier, getting his stick in to mess up the Flames’ mojo.
Vesce makes a great read to steal the puck at center ice, and then gets off a shot.
Nabby makes a great glove save on Eric Nystrom’s shot, at 4:57.
In a bit of comedy, Brian Boucher catches an errant puck from the bench – and gives it to a Calgary kid and his cowboy dad.
Joe Pavelski gets called for high-sticking Olli Jokinen at 8:47, and the Flames go on the man advantage for 2 minutes.
Nabby ROBS Michael Cammalleri at the goal line by going down low to stop him short side at the post. Calgary should have tied it right then and there, during the power play.
With a loose puck in front of Nabby, Cheechoo digs it out, and goes into Calgary’s zone with Joe Thornton. Sarich gets into the fray, and gets himself injured while Kipper makes a great save on Cheech’s backhand. Apparently he took a slap shot to his foot… so says AP.
Sharks fans sigh in relief as Joe Pavelski gets up slowly from the ice, after tumbling wildly with Milan Michalek in tow, with about 2 minutes left in the period.
Sharks hold on during the 6-on-5, and win in regulation 2-1, for a franchise record 111 points in 76 games.
NERD NOTES FOR THE PERIOD
Shots = 5-12, Calgary
Faceoff wins = 9-8 for the period, SJ (31-23 for the game)
Hits = 5-13, Calgary
Blocked shots = San Jose blocked 7, Calgary 2
Giveaways = 1-4, Calgary
Takeaways = 0-1, Calgary/

Final Nerd Notes

Jonathan Cheechoo led both teams’ players in shots, with 6.
Dan Boyle’s goal was his only shot of the night.
Olli Jokinen led the Flames with 5 shots.
Dion Phaneuf led all players in TOI with 25:27.
Ehrhoff and Boyle had 24:17 and 24:11, respectively.
Daymond Langkow was Calgary’s only plus-1.
Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski were the only minus-1s for San Jose.
Over four regular season games, San Jose narrowly outscored Calgary 12 to 10. Half of San Jose’s goals came in one game (6-1)./

San Jose plays Edmonton on Thursday – which is the next time Detroit plays as well (against St. Louis).

GO SHARKS.

Talking Points