Programming note: Sharks-Flames coverage starts tonight at 7pm with Sharks Pregame Live on CSN California
Where they stand
Sharks: 28-20-4, 60 points, 2nd Pacific Division
Flames: 24-25-3, 51 points, 6th Pacific Division
The latest
Sharks: The Sharks played four straight road games coming out of the All-Star break, going 2-2-0. It was capped off a 2-0 win in Chicago on Tuesday behind a power play goal by Patrick Marleau and 33 saves from Martin Jones. Joe Thornton had an empty net goal and an assist.
Flames: Despite scratching Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Lance Bouma, the Flames were able to get past the Maple Leafs at home on Tuesday, 4-3. Calgary has won three of its last four (3-1-0), but is just 8-14-3 on the road.
Keep an eye on…
Sharks: Patrick Marleau. The Sharks’ forward has been a streaky scorer throughout his career, and this season has been no different. He scored his first goal in a manned net in 17 games on Tuesday, so perhaps that marker can get him going on good run again, such as when he had nine goals in 15 games from Nov. 14 – Dec. 17.
Flames: Johnny Gaudreau. The Flames’ exciting forward was one of three players scratched from the lineup due to disciplinary reasons on Tuesday, so he’ll likely be particularly motivated tonight. Gaudreau, a 22-year-old New Jersey native, leads the Flames with 21 goals and 49 points.
Probable lines
Sharks
Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Matt Nieto – Patrick Marleau – Joel Ward
Joonas Donskoi – Logan Couture – Tommy Wingels
Melker Karlsson – Chris Tierney – Dainius Zubrus
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Paul Martin – Brent Burns
Dylan DeMelo – Matt Tennyson
Alex Stalock (confirmed starter)
Martin Jones
Flames
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Michael Ferland – Markus Granlund – David Jones
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engelland
Karri Ramo
Jonas Hiller
Vitals
Sharks
Goals per game: 2.87 (4th)
Goals-against per game: 2.65 (17th)
Power play: 22.5 percent (4th)
Penalty kill: 80.8 percent (17th)
Flames
Goals per game: 2.65 (13th)
Goals-against per game: 2.90 (26th)
Power play: 14.5 percent (30th)
Penalty kill: 76.6 percent (29th)
Injuries/Scratches
Sharks: Brenden Dillon (upper body) is out.
Flames: None.
Season series
The Sharks have won two of three games against the Flames this season, including the most recent meeting on Jan. 11 in Calgary, 5-4.
Joe Thornton, Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano all have four points in the season series, which concludes on March 7 at the Saddledome.
Odds and ends
*The Sharks are 5-0-2 in their last seven home games, and 10-12-2 overall.
*Marc-Edouard Vlasic has a five-game point/assist streak.
*Mirco Mueller was recalled from the AHL Barracuda on Thursday morning.
