Flames 4 - 3 Sharks
Final - OT
  for this game

Flames continue road trip against Sharks

Jan 17, 2015 - 3:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Calgary Flames hope to stay perfect on their five- game road trip Saturday night as they visit the San Jose Sharks seeking a third straight win.

The Flames dropped the final three contests of a six-game homestand before bouncing back with road wins over Vancouver and Arizona. They blanked the Canucks 1-0 last Saturday, then rolled late to a 4-1 win over the Coyotes on Thursday night.

Joni Ortio was in net for both wins after getting recalled from the minors to replace an injured Karri Ramo (upper body) on the roster. He posted 36 saves to blank the Canucks, then turned aside 27 shots versus the Coyotes.

Ortio is expected to get a third straight start tonight over Jonas Hiller and it would be his first against the Sharks.

Calgary scored three times in the third period to beat Arizona. David Jones broke a 1-1 tie at 4:51 of the third period, Mark Giordano added to the lead later on and Sean Monahan finished off the scoring with an empty-net tally.

"We played a great (third) period. I'm proud of the boys," said Calgary coach Bob Hartley.

Mikael Backlund, meanwhile, opened the scoring for Calgary by lighting the lamp for a fourth game in a row.

Calgary forward Curtis Glencross did leave the game with a lower-body injury and did not skate on Friday. He is doubtful to play tonight, with healthy scratch Mason Raymond expected to draw back into the lineup.

The Sharks have won two straight and four of their past six, kicking off a seven-game homestand with Thursday's 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Antti Niemi made 24 saves, while Tyler Kennedy and Patrick Marleau scored 11 seconds apart in the first period.

Tommy Wingels added an empty-net goal and Justin Braun had two assists.

Marleau's goal ended a 16-game goal drought and was his eighth of the season. He lit the lamp for the first time since potting the game-winner in a 3-2 win over the hosting Flames on Dec. 6.

"The chances have always been there, so hopefully this is the start of some that should have been going in earlier going in now," said Marleau.

San Jose snapped a three-game slide to Calgary with the December victory and has taken 11 of the previous 17 meetings overall and seven of the last nine played in San Jose.

Niemi is 13-3-1 versus the Flames with a 2.10 goals against average and .917 save percentage.






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