Flames roll Sharks, 8-5

The Calgary Flames have made a habit of scoring early and often in games, and Monday night was no exception.

On home ice, the Flames posted three goals in the first period to take a 3-1 lead over the visiting San Jose Sharks en route to an 8-5 thumping of the visitors.

Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk each scored twice in the win.

“Big night for us,” Gaudreau said. “Happy with the way our team played. It was going back and forth for a while there but we found a way to take it over in the third.”

David Rittich made 28 saves to get the win as the Flames reclaimed sole possession of the top spot in the Pacific Division.

“It was nice to have the lead most of the game,” Gaudreau said. “It’s a lot easier to play with the lead rather than trying to come back in the third like we have a few times this year.”

Joonas Donskoi struck for two goals for San Jose, and Brent Burns, Joe Thornton and Lucas Radil scored single markers for the Sharks.

“Every time we scored they answered. Pucks were just finding ways in the net. It was one of those weird nights where everything that was kind of directed at the net found the way in. They made a couple nice plays along the way, but a lot of tips and pucks in the air finding ways in,” Joe Pavelski said.

Elias Lindholm and James Neal scored single markers for Calgary.

.Sean Monahan had five assists for Calgary.

“It’s a long year, and anytime you play a rival like that it’s an important game,” Monahan said. “Tonight was exactly that.”

The Sharks dropped to 21-13-7.

“We’ll take a little bit to think about it, I think,” San Jose forward Evander Kane said. “I think there’s some things we can learn from, not just with the score or our play but as a team growing.”

[WATCH: All Sharks vs. Flames highlights]

Aaron Dell made 19 saves in the loss.

“I mean, that might’ve been the most bad luck I’ve seen in one game,” Dell said. “Even their harmless shots ended up going off stuff and right in the net. Crazy all-around game.”