San Jose Sharks look to stay hot vs. rebuilding Calgary Flames

Seeing how the new players will mesh with the current San Jose Sharks is important. Not only must players like Raffi Torres settle into rhythm with his new teammates, but the team must be able to put aside a bad history with him to keep the winning chemistry over the last 19 games during which they have only five regulation losses.The San Jose Sharks are one of the top NHL teams in the circle, while the Calgary Flames are among the worst. But once they get that puck, they must avoid the giveaways and continue to out-duel their guests in takeaways and shots to keep them on their heels.If the San Jose Sharks do not bring it, they will fight an uphill battle. They must seek to beat the Calgary Flames while they are down on the mat from their 8-2 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers. If they let their foe get up off the mat, they may find themselves at the wrong end of a game played to redeem that blowout.View the list »
The Calgary Flames will be lacking some familiar faces when they visit the San Jose Sharks Friday

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The San Jose Sharks seek their seventh straight win overall and sixth on this home stand when they host the Western Conference rival Calgary Flames Friday, April 5. While general manager Doug Wilson added players at the NHL trade deadline to help the home team make one more playoff push, his counterpart Jay Feaster finally accepted what he should have years ago and began rebuilding.

No longer will the Sharks have to face Jarome Iginla or Jay Bouwmeester, the best forward and defenseman of the Flames. Blake Comeau was also traded, but Miikka Kiprusoff declined to waive a non trade clause because he wants to finish his career with the team.

HP Pavilion
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He will have to carry this team to whatever victories they get, because goalie is the only position the Flames will hold an edge on for the rest of the 2013 NHL season. After the moves, San Jose's weakest unit (forwards) is stronger than Calgary's. Even if Jason Demers is not ready to return and Scott Hannan still needs time off for his sore neck, there is no comparison between the blue lines.

Of course, the Sharks are getting fantastic play in net from Antti Niemi. On the five-game home stand, he has surrendered just six goals. For the season, he is 18-8-5 with a .925 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average; Kiprusoff's numbers are brutal this season: 6-10-2, .868 and 3.64 respectively. All three other goalies to play for the Flames this season have allowed at least three goals per game, and everyone to play more than twice saves under one in nine shots.

Thus it is not surprising the Sharks have surged to fifth in the Western Conference standings, putting them solidly in position to keep their eight-year streak of making the Stanley Cup playoffs intact. It is also predictable the Flames sit second-last out west, prompting the rebuild at the NHL trade deadline.

In fact, San Jose has just one regulation loss at home all year (13 wins) while Calgary has only three road wins in the 2013 NHL season—all with their now traded stars. But when the venue and personnel favor this team, there is a risk of not playing with urgency. The closest game on the home stand thus far was against the only team faced (Phoenix) that is not currently sitting in position to make the Stanley Cup playoffs.

With that in mind, the list contains the three keys to a Sharks victory; look for live Twitter updates from HP Pavilion during the game.

View the list
  • If the San Jose Sharks do not bring it, they will fight an uphill battle. They must seek to beat the Calgary Flames while they are down on the mat from their 8-2 home loss to the Edmonton Oilers. If they let their foe get up off the mat, they may find themselves at the wrong end of a game played to redeem that blowout.
  • The San Jose Sharks are one of the top NHL teams in the circle, while the Calgary Flames are among the worst. But once they get that puck, they must avoid the giveaways and continue to out-duel their guests in takeaways and shots to keep them on their heels.
  • Seeing how the new players will mesh with the current San Jose Sharks is important. Not only must players like Raffi Torres settle into rhythm with his new teammates, but the team must be able to put aside a bad history with him to keep the winning chemistry over the last 19 games during which they have only five regulation losses.
View the list

, San Jose Sharks Examiner

Former community leader and featured columnist for the San Jose Sharks on Bleacher Report, MJ has been covering the Bay Area's most successful team for over four years. You may have seen MJ's work featured on Yahoo, CBS Sports and Fox Sports websites as well as numerous other places that cover...

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