Flames going into the Shark Tank Tuesday night

Calgary Flames (17-15-2) at San Jose Sharks (19-12-1) 8:30 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan

WHO TO WATCH — FLAMES LW Matthew Tkachuk

A return to SAP Center should bring back fond memories for Tkachuk. It was not quite seven weeks ago that the rookie left winger was informed during a morning meeting in San Jose that he could return the key to his billets at OHL London because he’d earned a full-time gig with the Flames. How did he celebrate? Tkachuk potted a pair that evening — including the game-winning tally with less than five minutes remaining in regulation time — to lead the Flames to a 3-2 triumph against their Pacific Division foes. Heading into Monday’s meeting with the Coyotes in Arizona, Tkachuk was still shooting for his first marker during the month of December. He’s due.

WHO TO WATCH — SHARKS D Brent Burns

Burns’ beard is so bushy that he might have a future as a shoppingmall Santa, but that will have to wait. The 31-year-old signed an eight-year, US$64-million extension with the Sharks last month and continues to provide plenty of bang for all those bucks. Burns is riding an eight-game point streak, equalling the longest spree by a defenceman so far this season. He’s tops among Sharks with 13 tallies, is tied for second on the team charts with 17 assists and is one of only two blue-liners — Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson is the other — to lead his respective squad in points. In four clashes with Calgary so far in 2016, the blueline brute has racked up three goals, seven points and 23 shots on net.

POWER PLAY — FLAMES

Have notched a power play strike in eight consecutive contests.

SETUP NOTES

The Flames have been victorious in five of their past six visits to San Jose, including a 3-2 squeaker in early November. That night, Flames LW Tkachuk enjoyed his first two-goal game as an NHLer, while D Deryk Engelland had a pair of helpers ... Tuesday is a doubleheader of sorts, with Calgary’s top affiliate — the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat — clashing with the San Jose Barracuda in a matinee at SAP Center, hours before a battle between their parent clubs. The Flames’ farmhands currently sit atop the AHL’s Pacific Division with a 16-6-2 mark. Calgary’s brass always keeps close tabs on the Heat, but there will likely be more eyeballs than usual on the minor-leaguers in their final contest before the AHL’s holiday break ... Milestone alert: Sharks C Joe Thornton will be logging his 1,400th regular season appearance. The 37-year-old centre currently ranks No. 37 among the NHL’s all-time leaders in games played. Only four active skaters — Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan and Thornton’s teammate in San Jose, Patrick Marleau — have more wear on their tires ... The Flames recalled D Tyler Wotherspoon from AHL Stockton. The 23-year-old was a healthy scratch for Monday’s late date in Arizona, but with NHL rosters now frozen for the holidays, he’ll be with the big club for Christmas.

INJURIES

Flames: Injury-free. Sharks: C Tomas Hertl (knee) is out.