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Instant Reaction: Flames snap losing streak with win over Sharks
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Jan 31, 2026, 18:46 ESTUpdated: Jan 31, 2026, 19:17 EST
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Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! 
The Calgary Flames did something on Saturday afternoon they haven’t done in awhile: they won a hockey game without Rasmus Andersson. After five losses following Andersson’s departure to Vegas, the Flames played a composed, structured, downright mature matinee game against the visiting San Jose Sharks.
Bolstered by goals at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded, the Flames held on for a 3-2 victory over the Sharks.

The rundown

The two teams exchanged power play goals in the first period.
3:11 into the first period, with Brayden Pachal in the penalty box, the Sharks opened the scoring. Zach Whitecloud attempted to clear out a puck along the wall near the corner of the zone, but his attempt got intercepted by Alexander Wennberg. Wennberg fired a crisp pass across the low slot to Will Smith, who fired the puck past Dustin Wolf to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
But later in the period, the Flames cashed in on a five-on-three power play. Connor Zary and Yegor Sharangovich drew minors right after another, giving the Flames a 38-second two-man advantage. Matt Coronato fired a shot on net and Alex Nedeljkovic made a great stop, but Morgan Frost was parked in front of the net and bonked home the rebound to tie the game at 1-1.
There was a bit of a scrum late in the period, after Martin Pospisil crunched Mario Ferraro along the boards in the Flames zone during a delayed-penalty sequence. (Somehow, after the scrum, the Flames only ended up defending a five-on-four penalty kill.)
First period shots were 15-11 Flames. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 10-5 Sharks and high-danger scoring chances were 4-2 Sharks.
The two teams exchanged even strength goals in the second period.
The Flames killed off a carry-over Sharks power play early in the second period, but 1:21 in, the Sharks retook the lead. Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar both blocked a couple Sharks shots, but the puck kept ricocheting around and, after a couple whacks at it in front of the Flames net, Adam Gaudette chipped it past Wolf to make it 2-1 Sharks.
But midway through the second period, the Flames tied things up again off a really nice offensive zone cycle sequence. The Flames lost an offensive zone draw but battled back to recover the puck. After a nice bit of puck and player movement, Frost threw a nice pass across the slot for Matvei Gridin, whose wrister beat Nedeljkovic to tie the game at 2-2.
Second period shots were 16-6 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 10-7 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 5-4 Flames.
It was a pretty back and forth third period, with both teams exchanging overlapping penalties midway through the frame.
After a brief four-on-four sequence, the Flames cashed in shorthanded. Mikael Backlund blasted a slap shot that missed the Sharks net… and bounced off the end-boards right to Joel Farabee, who whacked the puck into the Sharks net to give the home side a 3-2 lead.
The Sharks pulled their netminder for the extra attacker late and tried to get the equalizer. But they failed, and the Flames held on for the victory.
Third period shots were 10-8 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 8-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 5-1 Flames.

Why the Flames won

Honestly, the Flames just played their game. They made all sorts of mistakes at bad times during their prior five games, often with the puck, but in this game they played a pretty composed game. They didn’t get in their own way, avoided ugly miscues, and got rewarded on special teams. That’s usually enough for a win.

Red Warrior

We’ll go with Morgan Frost, who had a goal, assist and drew a penalty.
But a few guys in red did pretty well. Kevin Bahl was a menace in this game. Matvei Gridin made some nice plays. Dustin Wolf made saves when he was called upon.

Turning point

Joel Farabee’s shorthanded go-ahead goal was pretty big.

This and that

Dustin Wolf started in net, with Ryan Lomberg and Brayden Pachal returning to the lineup after being scratched in prior games.
This was Mikael Backlund’s 1,120th career game. He’s 99 behind Jarome Iginla on the Flames leaderboard.
The Flames now lead the NHL in shorthanded goals, with eight. Joel Farabee is tied for the league lead, with four.

After Burner

Join Mike Gould and Robert Munnich right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (22-26-6) are back at it on Monday night when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

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