The Calgary Flames defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on December 28, 2024, at SAP Center, marking the Sharks' seventh consecutive loss and highlighting their struggles this season.
Right from the start, the Sharks aimed to break their losing streak as they welcomed the Flames to San Jose. Despite early chances and showing promise, they fell behind quickly when Jonathan Huberdeau scored at 4:40 of the first period, deftly redirecting MacKenzie Weegar's slap shot. Flames Coach Ryan Huska expressed confidence after the win, stating, "It was a close game tonight. I liked our game tonight."
The Sharks had managed only one goal on 22 shots, with standout goaltender Yaroslav Askarov making 30 saves to keep the team competitive. Despite solid efforts, the team could not capitalize on their scoring opportunities, as Sharks Coach Ryan Warsofsky pointedly noted their issues, saying, "[Our] puck play, [we were] soft in front of our net..."
After Calgary took the lead, the Sharks finally answered back with Macklin Celebrini’s power-play goal at 3:04 of the second period. Celebrini's shot came from Alexander Wennberg's setup and was important for the morale of the Sharks, tying the game at 1-1.
While it seemed the Sharks might gain momentum from the equalizer, the Flames responded swiftly. Mikael Backlund scored again for Calgary, pushing the Flames' lead to 2-1. Backlund converted on a power play at 6:50 of the second, taking advantage of the rebound generated from Nazem Kadri's shot.
Celebrini, who continues to be one of the bright spots for San Jose, remarked, "Trailing at the start of the game, it's not easy. I thought overall, we did a lot of really good things..." Despite his efforts and leading as the top rookie scorer, the Sharks could not ignite their attack sufficiently against the Flames.
The third period continued to showcase the Sharks' frustrations as Calgary managed to maintain its lead effectively. After multiple chances, the Flames sealed the victory with Huberdeau's empty-net goal at 19:59, ensuring the win capped the evening's play.
With their struggles remaining clear, the Sharks must confront the state of their season as they are now 1-9-1 in their last 11 games. The Flames’ victory also reflected their improvement as they climbed to 17-11-7, continuing to push for playoff positioning.
The night was not without its challenges for the Sharks. Carl Grundstrom left the game early following a heavy hit from Flames defenseman Brayden Pachal. While Grundstrom's injury details remain unclear, he was part of the injury struggles faced by San Jose, with other notable absences and lineup adjustments hampering their performance.
Despite the adversity, players like Celebrini are establishing their roles as leaders on this struggling team. Celebrini currently leads all NHL rookies with 12 goals and is tied for first with 27 points, proving to be instrumental amid the Sharks' plight.
Looking forward, the Sharks must focus on remedies for their persistent issues as they navigate through the season's latter half, hoping to end their losing streak soon and regain competitive form.