The San Jose Sharks are playing host to the Calgary Flames tonight in a crucial matchup for both clubs. Calgary is looking to remain in the playoff race while San Jose is looking to extend some separation between them, the Kings and the Flames.
The regression that most people predicted earlier in the season is in full swing for Calgary – despite winning two straight – and their possession has actually worsened in the New Year, dropping from a score-adjusted corsi of 44.3 from October to the end of December to where it is now for January at 41.5. That would be great for the Sharks – if they weren’t in the same situation.
San Jose’s SAC has dropped from 52.0(Oct-Dec) to 46.9(Jan). I’d attribute that to the disastrous games without Joe Thornton as well as the separation of Thornton and Pavelski in the games after Thornton’s return.
While they are winners of two straight, the Sharks aren’t playing like a playoff caliber team right now and Calgary will be hungry to come in and grab two points. The season series is split right now with each team winning their respective road game so the Sharks know exactly what they’re in for tonight – a tough battle against a never-say-die opponent looking to catch them in the standings.
Keys to the Game
Chemistry
Can the top six group find chemistry together? Namely, Couture and Pavelski. If McLellan is going to go with the same lines as the previous two games those two players are going to have to get something going offensively. I’m not confident that Marleau has fully climbed out of his slump just because he gets one garbage goal that Nieto shoved in via the goaltender’s pad.
In the middle of a playoff race isn’t really an ideal time to search for new lines from top to bottom – which is essentially what’s happening in San Jose right now.
Shots Under 30
The Flames shooting percentage is returning to Earth so if the Sharks can keep Calgary to under 30 shots tonight they will give themselves a good chance to win the game. They did it against Toronto and they’ll need to step up and do it again against the Flames.
The Sharks net isn't built to see 30+, and I know I’m beating a dead horse.
Giordano and Brodie
San Jose has to contain these two players. They drive the offense for Calgary and are great at exiting the defensive zone. If the Sharks can limit the amount of time that they have the puck they will force the Flames to complete zone exits with lesser quality players.
It doesn't stop there with these two, though, as they’re solid hockey players in all three zones. In the neutral zone they are just as effective moving around as they are in the defensive zone. Full attention needs to be paid to these two guys – although that shouldn’t be anything new for the Sharks, or the rest of the league for that matter.
The Sharks need tight goaltending. They need to build off of the momentum from the previous two wins and carry that through. It’s tough to tell a team win four games straight but that’s exactly what the Sharks need to do. The Western Conference is a tough place to be if you shoot for mediocrity. Arizona, Toronto, Calgary and New Jersey are currently non-playoff teams. Those are the teams the Sharks have to dig down and fend off while they grab important points.
Los Angeles, Anaheim and Chicago lie in wait for the Sharks after Monday’s game against the Devils. San Jose needs to build a cushion in case they run into trouble during that three game stretch.
Expect a good, fast game tonight. A win by the Flames pulls them within two points of San Jose with a game in hand - while a Sharks win pushes the Flames back 6 points.
Puck drop is at 10pmET(7pmPDT).
Thanks for reading.