CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Joel Hanley scored his first goal of the season at 13:26 of the third period, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night. With this win, the Flames snapped a three-game winless skid and are now just one point behind the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Joining Hanley on the scoresheet were Nazem Kadri and Kevin Rooney, both of whom played pivotal roles throughout the match. Rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf was solid in net, making 27 saves to secure his 20th victory of the season after previously going winless over his last four starts.
The game kicked off strong for the Sharks when rookie Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring with his 18th goal of the season at 3:41. Celebrini received praise as one of the NHL’s top rookies, and his ability to find the net continues to shine as he leads the team. Tyler Toffoli also contributed for San Jose, scoring his 21st goal, which marked him as the team’s leading scorer.
The Flames equalized with Kadri’s shot, which hit the back of the net during a power play at 7:27 of the first period. This goal marked Kadri's 20th of the season, making it the fourth consecutive season he has reached this milestone since joining Calgary as a free agent.
After the first period ended with both teams tied at 1-1, it was Rooney’s turn to shine. He scored at 3:35 of the second period, knocking home Ryan Lomberg’s rebound and breaking his own 24-game goal drought, giving the Flames the 2-1 lead. San Jose’s Tyler Toffoli countered, swatting in his own rebound early in the third period to tie the game once again.
With the score knotted at 2-2, the stage was set for Hanley to become the hero. Playing four-on-four, he received a pass from teammate Jonathan Huberdeau, who expertly setup Hanley’s shot to beat Sharks goaltender Alexander Georgiev. This goal not only secured the victory for the Flames but also marked Hanley’s long-awaited return to the scoresheet, ending what had been a 31-game goal drought.
The Sharks, now on a five-game winless streak and six straight losses on the road, continue to struggle this season, remaining at the bottom of the standings. Their goalie, Alexandar Georgiev, faced 36 shots, suffering his sixth consecutive loss as he now has one of the league's roughest stretches — losing 12 out of his last 13 games. After the game, both players and coaches acknowledged the need for improvement.
“This is what you play for,” Kadri commented after the match, reflecting on the importance of getting those two points as the Flames approach the stretch drive of the season. “We found a way today. I don’t think it was our best game at all, but we dug deep when it mattered.” Kadri’s sentiment encapsulated the type of gritty determination needed as playoff contention looms closer.
The Flames head out on the road for a challenging six-game stint starting on Tuesday against the Capitals, and they will need to build on this victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Sharks are set to visit the Winnipeg Jets for their next matchup, hoping to break their losing streak.
Both teams have their upcoming challenges laid out clearly before them; for the Flames, every point counts as they strive for playoff positioning, and for the Sharks, it appears to be about redemption and getting back to winning ways.