5 THINGS - FLAMES VS. SHARKS

FLAMES (32-26-15) vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS (19-38-15)

2 p.m. MT | TV: Sportsnet | RADIO: Sportsnet 960 The FAN

2022-23 Season Series: 2-0-0

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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
Elite Company - Backlund to Play in 900th Career Game
Projected Lineup
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2022-23 Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Tyler Toffoli (65)
Goals - Toffoli (29)
Sharks:
Points - Erik Karlsson (88)
Goals - Logan Couture (24)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 20.4% (20th) / PK - 81.7% (10th)
Sharks:
PP - 17.6% (27th) / PK - 83.0% (6th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 56.96% (2nd)
High-Danger Chances: 52.66% (12th)
Sharks:
Shot Attempts: 49.39% (20th)
High-Danger Chances: 54.91% (5th)
The Flames ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 final against the Golden Knights on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Milan Lucic and Nazem Kadri scored for the homeside, while Jacob Markstrom had an impressive 29-save performance.
The defeat was a setback for the Flames in their pursuit of a postseason berth, but that tilt is now in the rearview mirror and all the team can focus on is the present - and today's tilt with the Sharks.
"We've got nine games left here to play and then we'll see where we're at," said Mikael Backlund following Friday's practice. "We just have to focus on that, just go out and play our best. We can only control what we can control and we have to focus on that."
"Win tomorrow, I think that's the biggest thing," echoed Dillon Dube. "It's meaningful points and tomorrow is a big game, that's what we're looking at now. Win that and then move on, win the next one."
Saturday will be an important milestone for Backlund, who will suit up in his 900th NHL game - all wearing the Flaming C.
"Ya, it's special," said Backlund. "I never thought or expected I'd play 900 games for one organization. I feel very privileged, and very special. To be the third player to do that beside Jarome and Gio, it makes it even more special. Those are some very special players, you know, Hall of Fame, Norris trophy winner, so, ya, makes me feel a little special, too, being in that same club soon.
"Very thankful that Calgary stuck with me and I'm still here playing ... for them."
Head coach Darryl Sutter had high praise for his veteran pivot's accomplishment.
"It's pretty awesome. It goes fast; when you think about somebody like Mikael, and he's having a helluva year," said Sutter. "You know, numbers-wise and quite honest performance-wise, it might be his best year. So, that speaks volumes about him."

It's been a rough season for the Sharks.
They are 1-6-3 in their last 10 outings, have lost eight in a row, and come in fresh off a 7-2 shellacking in Vancouver on Thursday night.
The Canucks tallied three in the first period, while Tomas Hertl scored for the visitors and Andrew Agozzino would find twine in the third period. James Reimer made 14 stops between the pipes for a new-look San Jose squad.
"When you make so many changes, some of the things that are happening out there are not really the fault of the new players," San Jose coach David Quinn told NHL.com. "They just haven't been accustomed to playing the way you want to play, but the guys that have been here have to keep this thing together and understand we've got a season to finish, and we've got to do a better job finishing on a strong note."
BROKEN RECORD:
In their most recent meeting with the Sharks on Dec. 20, Tyler Toffoli and Dillon Dube both scored in the first 30 seconds of the contest, which set a franchise record for the fastest two goals to start a game, beating Doug Risebrough and Colin Patterson's two tallies in 32 seconds during a 6-1 win over the Hartford Whalers on March 11, 1987. Calgary became just the seventh team in NHL history to score two goals in the opening 30 seconds of a game and just the fourth team to do it on the road.
AHEAD BY A CENTURY:
Troy Stecher scored his first goal as a Flame on Tuesday night in Anaheim. With the goal, Stecher now has 99 career points in the NHL, and is just one away from the 100-point plateau. If Stecher can reach the milestone before the end of the season, he can become just the 11th active undrafted NHL defenceman to eclipse 100 points in his career. Stecher's goal would also hold up as the game-winner, the first of his NHL career.
DID YOU KNOW?:
Mikael Backlund needs one game-winning goal to surpass Joe Mullen for sole possession of sixth place on the Flames' all-time list (33).
Stick tap to Flames Public Relations Coordinator Jordan Bay for compiling these notes.
Follow him and the Flames PR team @FlamesPR on Twitter for more.
Flames - Jonathan Huberdeau
Huby has four points in two games against the Sharks this season and has averaged a point per game vs. San Jose during his career. He has three helpers in his last three outings for the Flames. Huberdeau now has the fourth-most assists by a primary left-winger before their 30th birthday in NHL history with 450. Only Michel Goulet (491), Brian Bellows (466), and Luc Robitaille (466) have more.
Sharks - Erik Karlsson
The guy is on a serious heater this season. He needs just 12 more points to hit the century mark and become the first NHL defenceman to make that plateau since Brian Leetch all the waaaaaay back in 1991-92.
Noah Hanifin on mindset down the stretch drive:
"I think you just have to be focused on your individual play, I think that's all you can control ... making sure you are going out and doing your job. Just focus on winning each period, winning each game and not looking too far ahead. I think some times when you look too far ahead at the big picture, sometimes that can be a little draining. You just have to take it one day at a time."