:sharks: @ :flames: Preview
Last 10: San Jose 4-5-1; Calgary 6-4-0
Season series: Third of four meetings this season. The teams have split a pair of games played at the Shark Tank. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 35 shots and Daymond Langkow scored the game-winner as Calgary got a leg up with a 2-1 win on Dec. 5. But San Jose responded big-time with a 9-1 rout on Jan. 18, part of a nine-game losing streak for the Flames that first thrust their postseason aspirations into doubt.
Big story: It's a big night in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff berth. Detroit, which leads Calgary by a single point, is still out in western Canada after edging the Flames earlier this week. The Red Wings play a game they will be favored to win against the cellar-dwelling Oilers, but the Flames can't worry what's going on elsewhere -- they have to focus on getting two points against a very tough opponent and at the very least maintaining the status quo.
Who's hot?: Joe Pavelski has five goals and five assists in the Sharks' eight games since the Olympic break. … Rene Bourque scored shorthanded and on the power play for the Flames in their win on Wednesday.
Injury report: San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic is on injured reserve with a knee injury. … Calgary forward Curtis Glencross will miss Friday's game with a knee injury while forward Christopher Higgins is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Stat pack: The Sharks' 17 regulation losses are the second fewest in the League (the Capitals have 14), but their 10 losses in either overtime or the shootout are tied for the ninth most (along with the Capitals and Sabres). … The Flames have the third-lowest goals-per-game average at 2.49, but the third-best goals-against average at 2.40.
Last 10: San Jose 4-5-1; Calgary 6-4-0
Season series: Third of four meetings this season. The teams have split a pair of games played at the Shark Tank. Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 35 shots and Daymond Langkow scored the game-winner as Calgary got a leg up with a 2-1 win on Dec. 5. But San Jose responded big-time with a 9-1 rout on Jan. 18, part of a nine-game losing streak for the Flames that first thrust their postseason aspirations into doubt.
Big story: It's a big night in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff berth. Detroit, which leads Calgary by a single point, is still out in western Canada after edging the Flames earlier this week. The Red Wings play a game they will be favored to win against the cellar-dwelling Oilers, but the Flames can't worry what's going on elsewhere -- they have to focus on getting two points against a very tough opponent and at the very least maintaining the status quo.
Who's hot?: Joe Pavelski has five goals and five assists in the Sharks' eight games since the Olympic break. … Rene Bourque scored shorthanded and on the power play for the Flames in their win on Wednesday.
Injury report: San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic is on injured reserve with a knee injury. … Calgary forward Curtis Glencross will miss Friday's game with a knee injury while forward Christopher Higgins is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Stat pack: The Sharks' 17 regulation losses are the second fewest in the League (the Capitals have 14), but their 10 losses in either overtime or the shootout are tied for the ninth most (along with the Capitals and Sabres). … The Flames have the third-lowest goals-per-game average at 2.49, but the third-best goals-against average at 2.40.
