Flames score three in third to take down Sharks

The Calgary Flames used a three-goal, third-period comeback to keep their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over the struggling Sharks in San Jose on Monday.

Adam Klapka, Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato all scored in the final frame for the Flames. Goaltender Dustin Wolf made 29 saves for Calgary (37-27-13, 87 points).

The Flames are four points back of the Minnesota Wild for the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. Calgary has five games remaining, one more than the Wild.

Will Smith scored both goals for the Sharks (20-47-10, 50 points), who have lost six consecutive games and sit at the bottom of the league standings.

Goalie Georgi Romanov stopped 29 shots for San Jose but was unable to earn his first NHL victory.

The Flames have won all three meetings this season with one more remaining. Calgary has won five straight and nine of 10 against the Sharks, but those runs were in jeopardy before Calgary cued up a comeback from a 1-0 deficit.

Calgary was the better team after a sub-standard first period and was rewarded with Klapka's goal at 8:12 of the third period to tie the clash. Nazem Kadri's shot off the rush was stopped, but Klapka converted the rebound.

Huberdeau's power-play goal at 11 minutes of the third gave Calgary the lead. Coronato provided the eventual winner at 15:30, netting his 22nd of the season when he grabbed a turnover created by Mikael Backlund in the slot and ripped a short-side shot.

Smith potted his second of the game on the power play, on the spot for a rebound with 1:59 remaining in regulation for his 16th goal in his rookie campaign; however, the hosts were unable to find the tying goal despite the strong start.

The Sharks controlled play in the first period and converted their 18th shot when Smith opened the scoring with 24.2 seconds remaining in it, banging home a shot from the slot.

With his pair of assists, Macklin Celebrini set a franchise record for assists by a rookie with 36.

San Jose was without leading scorer Tyler Toffoli due to a lower-body injury.

--Field Level Media