So close to grabbing a 3-1 series lead over the San Jose Sharks three nights ago, the Calgary Flames now find themselves on the brink of elimination.
The Sharks skated to a 4-3 win on home ice last night to grab a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 at the Saddledome on Sunday.
“It shows that we’ve learned from our mistakes in the past and we’re here to play,” Jonathan Cheechoo told the CBC after scoring two goals in the third period, including the game winner.
San Jose captain Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist, while Joe Pavelski also scored.
Jarome Iginla scored in the second period to give the Flames a 1-0 lead before the Sharks rallied for four straight goals. Daymond Langkow and David Moss then scored to pull the Flames within one, but that was as close as they would get.
The two teams came out hitting hard in Game 5 with the Sharks holding an 18-16 edge in that category after a scoreless first period
“There’s been lots of physical play all series between us,” Calgary defenceman Robyn Regehr told CBC. “That’s playoff hockey.”
Iginla put the Flames up 1-0 at the 4:03 mark of the second period when he one-timed a feed from Kristian Huselius past San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov while the Flames had a two-man advantage.
Later in the middle frame, Pavelski shovelled a rebound past Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff during a San Jose power play to tie the score.
At 18:07 of the second, Marleau took a feed from Joe Thornton and roofed a shot over Kiprusoff’s glove hand to put the Sharks up 2-1.
