Sharks shock Flames

Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Under the microscope are two fine specimens. The best player on each team, the Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla and the San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton are expected to be the deciders.

Sure there are other post-season battles - Dion Phaneuf versus Brian Campbell, Miikka Kiprusoff versus Evgeni Nabokov - this one, superstar against superstar, is the most compelling.

Most telling, too.

Through three games, Iginla - and, not surprisingly, the Flames - had the edge over Thornton & Co.

It levelled Tuesday.

Sure, Iginla scored once and set up another goal - on a clean faceoff win over Thornton yet - to stake the Flames to a lead.

But Thornton, in addition to collecting an early assist, was a handful - too much, in fact, for the Flames - in the dying seconds.

And with only 7.3 seconds remaining - and his team having outshot the locals 31-10 - His Jumboness orchestrated the winning goal to give the Sharks a 3-2 decision in National Hockey League action Tuesday at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

With the best-of-seven series squared at two wins apiece, Game 5 is slated for Thursday at HP Pavilion.

"No, I'm not going to comment about (Thornton's lack of productivity)," Sharks skipper Ron Wilson was saying before the game. "We need more from the whole team, not one player. It's a team game. We need everyone to be physically involved tonight and to work hard and we'll be fine."

Slick Willie was right.

The Sharks were fine.

With less than five minutes remaining, Jonathan Cheechoo from the right side - and sharp-angled - rifled home a high shot to tie the contest.

Earlier, Ryane Clowe - who else? - counted for the Sharks.

The Flames also got a tally from Dion Phaneuf.

Before the contest had even officially begun, interesting tidbits were being sprinkled everywhere.

First, the announcement of the Flames starters brought a roar for two players in particular, starting netminder Miikka Kiprusoff, a welcome-back kind of thing, and defencemen Cory Sarich, who, of course, had blasted Patrick Marleau to smithereens in Game 3.

Then came the American anthem.

Typically nothing out of the ordinary - but Tuesday?

First, there was a shout-out to David Hale on the "what so proudly we HAILed." Also, in a repeat of Game 3's roar, there was the accentuated "red" on the "rocket's RED glare."

And, of course, the fun was only starting.

Before the puck could drop, Sharks enforcer Jody Shelley, opening-shift left-winger, began barking at Sarich - for obvious reasons. But Flames' starting right-winger Owen Nolan didn't appreciate being middleman to Shelley's rant, and the two gave each other a healthy shove.

Finally, after warnings were issued, the puck dropped, but not before Clowe gave his opposite winger, Alex Tanguay, a clout in the mush.

OK - then the period got going.

Mindful of their pokey opening minutes Sunday, the Flames appeared to be in gear right off the bat.

Craig Conroy and Nolan, working two on one on Campbell, put a meaningful drive at the Evgeni Nabokov - and that was just two minutes in.

At 3:19, and on their last shot of the period - yes, their last shot - Iginla cashed in.

The Flames captain started the play, knocking down a clearing attempt at the Sharks' blue-line. The puck went to Tanguay, who sent out a net-front pass. Daymond Langkow jammed at it once, before it rolled over to Iginla, who, curling it in, snapped it past Nabokov.

For good measure, as the goal's details were being announced over the loud-speakers, Iginla rushed deep into San Jose territory and crumpled Christian Ehrhoff, who, because of a lower-body boo-boo, was making his series debut.

But before the first-intermission horn could go, Shelley had his say. Sort of.

Not only did the big galoot knock over Kiprusoff - even the tolerant officials had to call that - but he jostled with defender Jim Vandermeer in the crease. Then? Gave a bench-bound Kiprusoff a gentle (but uncalled-for) nudge in the back of the legs.

Kiprusoff shook that off.

But when Conroy went off for hooking in the second period, the Sharks made good.

Patrick Marleau's wristshot from the point was tipped in by Clowe - the Sharks' best player for the past week - at 10:56.

And while most players would have been satisfied lugging a 1-1 deadlock into the dressing rooms - not Phaneuf.

The kid was on the ice for six of the seven goals Sunday. And Tuesday? His seeing-eye wrist shot pushed the Flames ahead 2-1 at 18:29, making him three of three.

scruickshank@theherald.canwest.com