3rd-period penalty among big saves for Jones
Martin Jones stood on his head Sunday night to help the Sharks snap a two-game losing streak.
San Jose’s goalie made 14 saves in the third period, including one on a penalty shot, to point the Sharks toward a 3-1 win over Calgary to open a six-game homestand at SAP Center.
“He made some huge saves for us at the end, but he’s made those all year for us,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski, who had an empty-net goal in the final minute. “The difference might have been he made two or three critical stops, when on other nights, he’s had to make six or seven.”
Jones made a stick save on Sam Bennett’s penalty shot at 12:22 of the third after the Calgary forward was hooked by San Jose defenseman Brenden Dillon to draw the one-onone effort. The Flames did not enjoy any power plays in the game.
“I know that’s a move a lot of guys like to do coming off the side and shoot off the stick,” Jones said. “I tried to stay patient and be ready.”
Jones, who also had a huge blocker save on Mark Jankowski alone in front at 13:30 of the third, made 29 saves in all.
“He was dialed in all night,” Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said of Jones. “It was fun to watch even though it was nerveracking because we were giving chances up. When we needed him, he came up big.”
Evander Kane’s determination and Jones’ strong play in goal were the biggest reasons the Sharks clung to a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
A Calgary team that won 1-0 in Los Angeles on Saturday came out 24 hours later and committed turnovers twice in the first minute of play. Kane made the Flames pay for that sloppiness.
The left wing flashed in from the left boards and let go of a wrist shot that beat goalie Mike Smith just 50 seconds after the opening faceoff. Kane’s sixth goal of the season was only his second in 14 games.
San Jose couldn’t build on the lead for the remainder of the period as Smith — with a subpar save percentage (.872) coming into the game — warmed to the occasion. He made a number of big stops as the first period unfolded, but Jones was more than solid at his end, too.
The Sharks extended their lead early in the second not long after they failed to convert on the game’s first power play.
An unchallenged Kane patiently stick-handled behind the Flames’ net before centering the puck to Donskoi, who —while completely alone — pushed a shot past Smith at 1:28. Donskoi’s fourth goal ended his nine-game goal drought.
Kane started the sequence 200 feet earlier by circling behind his net to help San Jose’s defense break out clean, a detail that has been missing from the Sharks’ game of late.
A mistake by a defenseman did, however, cost San Jose not long after the Sharks failed to produce a shot on their second power play.
After Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson fired a shot that was blocked, he simply lost his feet at the San Jose blue line, handing the puck to Jankowski in the process. Jankowski fed a breaking Sean Monahan, whose shot beat Jones at 6:02 as the Flames cut their deficit to 2-1.
Despite the mistake, Jones said he was happy with his team’s play in front of him.
“We had a lot more jump and tenacity to our game,” Jones said. “We pressured them hard. Even when they had chances, we had guys on them forcing them.” Briefly: Sharks forward Tomas Hertl returned after missing three games because of concussion symptoms. … San Jose forward Logan Couture appeared in his 600th career game.