Flames Secure 3-2 Win Over Sharks with Late Goal

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Joel Hanley scored his first goal of the season at 13:26 of the third period to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.

Nazem Kadri and Kevin Rooney also netted goals for the Flames, who snapped a three-game winless skid. With the victory, Calgary moved to within one point of the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference.

The Canucks suffered a loss to the Utah Hockey Club earlier on Sunday, further fueling Calgary’s playoff ambitions.

Macklin Celebrini put San Jose on the board first, scoring at 3:41 of the opening period. Tyler Toffoli later tied the game at 1-1 with a quick strike on a rebound.

“It felt great to get that goal, especially in a game we needed to win,” Hanley said after the match. “The team played hard and it showed in the end.”

Rooney’s goal marked the first point for the forward in 24 games, giving the Flames a temporary 2-1 lead before Toffoli equalized with his team-leading 21st goal early in the third period.

C Calgary’s rookie goaltender, Dustin Wolf, who recorded 27 saves, improved his record to 20-11-3 after a four-game winless stretch. He acknowledged the importance of the victory.

“We’ve had some tough games, but this win was crucial for our confidence,” Wolf said. “We’ve got to keep pushing forward.”

At the other end, Sharks’ goaltender Alexandar Georgiev faced 33 shots and has now lost six straight games, dropping his record to 10-19-0. The Sharks extended their losing streak to five games overall.

After the teams were tied 1-1 following the first period, Calgary regained momentum in the second with Rooney’s goal, but Toffoli’s response early in the third set the stage for Hanley’s game-winner.

With 6:32 remaining in the game, Hanley capitalized on a setup from Jonathan Huberdeau and fired a shot past Georgiev, giving the Flames a 3-2 lead.

“It was a relief to finally score, especially after a long drought,” Hanley added. “I just focused on getting the shot off and it found the back of the net.”

Both teams remain in crucial stretches of the season as they battle for playoff positions. The Flames are now looking to leverage their momentum heading into their upcoming game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Sharks, struggling near the bottom of the standings, will face the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, as they aim to break a string of six consecutive road losses.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2025.