In Calgary, the Flames lost a 2-0 lead to the visiting San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon, and needed a three-goal outburst in the third period to get a 5-3 win and gain in the Western Conference wild card race.
Tyler Toffoli hit for a double for the Flames for his 31st goal of the campaign.
“I’m very fortunate,” Toffoli said. “Obviously it hasn’t gone the way as a group we’ve wanted to. It’s a little unfortunate, but at the same time we’re still kind of in it and trying to win games.”
The Flames moved to 33-26-15 on their second straight win.
Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves in the victory.
MacKenzie Weegar a and Toffoli scored in the first period to give the Flames the 2-0 lead.
San Jose replied with three goals.
Logan Couture scored in the first to send the game to the middle frame with the Sharks down, 2-1.
Nico Sturm tied the game, 2-2, early in the second, and Martin Kaut scored 22 seconds later for a 3-2 for the Sharks.
“We fought,” Couture said. “Kept it close for a while. I thought we were the better team for the second half the first period. Power play kind of let us down there. It would’ve been nice to get one at the end to tie that one up.
“Pretty close game overall. We had enough legs to definitely score a fourth one. It’s tough. It’s tough losing right now.”
Calgary’s Walker Duehr scored to tie the game, 3-3, in the third, and Nazem Kadri put the Flames ahead 4-3.
Toffoli’s double was into an empty net for the 5-3 final.
“I thought we did a good job sticking together and found a way to win,” Toffoli said.
The Sharks dropped to 19-39-15 on their ninth straight loss.
“Losing [stinks],” Couture said. “I feel like I’ve said that too many times this season. I thought tonight was one of our better efforts. We’re realistic in here. We know where we’re at.
“We lost a bunch of guys at the [trade] deadline. We moved out six or seven of our full-time players. I liked our compete. We fought to the end. We can be proud of that.”
Kaapo Kahkonen made 25 saves in the loss.
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