<p>After their big win over Tampa Bay two days prior, the virtual Calgary Flames hit the ice again on March 23 to host the simulated San Jose Sharks. It was another track meet, with the Flames going back and forth with the lowly Sharks.</p>
<p>But the Flames managed to eke out a 6-5 regulation win over San Jose despite giving up the lead several times.</p>
<h2><strong>Lineups</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Flames:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Forwards: Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm, Mangiapane-Backlund-Tkachuk, Lucic-Ryan-Dube, Bennett-Jankowski-Rieder</li>
<li>Defense: Giordano-Brodie, Hanifin-Hamonic, Gustafsson-Andersson</li>
<li>Goalies: Talbot starting, Rittich as backup</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sharks</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Forwards: Kane-Gregor-Labanc, Couture-Thornton-Meier, Karlsson-Kellman-Noesen, Sorensen-Suomela-Gambrell</li>
<li>Defense: Simek-Burns, Vlasic-Davidson, Knyzhov-Heed</li>
<li>Goalies: Dell starting, with Jones as backup</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Results</strong></h2>
<p>This game was wacky, with 11 goals and a ton of lead changes. The Flames had a lead, blew it, got it back, blew it again, got it back again, and blew it again before scoring late to grab the win in regulation.</p>
<p>Vintage Flames hockey.</p>
<table style="height: 220px" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Score</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Scoring Line</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Details</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">1-0 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau 20 (Monahan 30, Brodie 18) 1:55 first</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Rebound off initial own chance.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">1-1 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Meier (Kane, Burns) 5:04 first</td>
<td style="height: 22px">One-timer off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">2-1 Sharks</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Burns (Kane, Gregor) 2:32 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Point shot through traffic.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">2-2 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Giordano 7 (Backlund 35) PP 17:38 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Point shot off face-off win.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">3-2 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau 21 (Lindholm 28, Monahan 31) 19:44 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Rebound off initial rush chance.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">3-3 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Labanc (Gregor, Simek) 0:31 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">4-3 Sharks</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Suomela (Sorensen, Burns) 13:43 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">4-4 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan 26 (Dube 12, Gustafsson 28) 15:45 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">One timer off the rush</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">5-4 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan 27 (Lindholm 29) 17:43 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5-5 tie</td>
<td>Meier (Couture, Heed) 19:03 third</td>
<td>Wrist shot off face-off win.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6-5 Flames</td>
<td>Ryan 12 (Lucic 19, Giordano 31) 19:25 third</td>
<td>Rebound off initial point shot.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>Three Stars</strong></h2>
<ol>
<li>Sean Monahan (Flames)</li>
<li>Brent Burns (Sharks)</li>
<li>Johnny Gaudreau (Flames)</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Updated Standings</strong></h2>
<p>With the win, the Flames improve to 41-29-7 and have 89 points. Updating the remainder of the relevant Western Conference standings with <a href="https://theathletic.com/1676721/2020/03/27/by-the-numbers-what-if-the-nhl-season-wasnt-suspended/">the Athletic&#8217;s game-by-game projections</a>, here&#8217;s how things look at the end of the night on March 23.</p>
<p><strong>Pacific Division</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Vancouver &#8211; 92 points</li>
<li>Vegas &#8211; 90 points</li>
<li><strong>Calgary &#8211; 89 points</strong></li>
<li>Edmonton &#8211; 88 points</li>
<li>Arizona &#8211; 79 points</li>
<li>Anaheim &#8211; 73 points</li>
<li>Los Angeles &#8211; 67 points</li>
<li>San Jose &#8211; 63 points</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Wild Cards</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Minnesota &#8211; 89 points</li>
<li>Edmonton &#8211; 88 points</li>
<li>Nashville &#8211; 83 points</li>
<li>Winnipeg &#8211; 82 points</li>
</ol>

After their big win over Tampa Bay two days prior, the virtual Calgary Flames hit the ice again on March 23 to host the simulated San Jose Sharks. It was another track meet, with the Flames going back and forth with the lowly Sharks.

But the Flames managed to eke out a 6-5 regulation win over San Jose despite giving up the lead several times.
<h2><strong>Lineups</strong></h2>
<strong>Flames:</strong>
<ul>
 	<li>Forwards: Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm, Mangiapane-Backlund-Tkachuk, Lucic-Ryan-Dube, Bennett-Jankowski-Rieder</li>
 	<li>Defense: Giordano-Brodie, Hanifin-Hamonic, Gustafsson-Andersson</li>
 	<li>Goalies: Talbot starting, Rittich as backup</li>
</ul>
<strong>Sharks</strong>
<ul>
 	<li>Forwards: Kane-Gregor-Labanc, Couture-Thornton-Meier, Karlsson-Kellman-Noesen, Sorensen-Suomela-Gambrell</li>
 	<li>Defense: Simek-Burns, Vlasic-Davidson, Knyzhov-Heed</li>
 	<li>Goalies: Dell starting, with Jones as backup</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Results</strong></h2>
This game was wacky, with 11 goals and a ton of lead changes. The Flames had a lead, blew it, got it back, blew it again, got it back again, and blew it again before scoring late to grab the win in regulation.

Vintage Flames hockey.
<table style="height: 220px" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Score</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Scoring Line</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Details</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">1-0 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau 20 (Monahan 30, Brodie 18) 1:55 first</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Rebound off initial own chance.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">1-1 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Meier (Kane, Burns) 5:04 first</td>
<td style="height: 22px">One-timer off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">2-1 Sharks</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Burns (Kane, Gregor) 2:32 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Point shot through traffic.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">2-2 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Giordano 7 (Backlund 35) PP 17:38 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Point shot off face-off win.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">3-2 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau 21 (Lindholm 28, Monahan 31) 19:44 second</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Rebound off initial rush chance.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">3-3 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Labanc (Gregor, Simek) 0:31 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">4-3 Sharks</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Suomela (Sorensen, Burns) 13:43 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">4-4 tie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan 26 (Dube 12, Gustafsson 28) 15:45 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">One timer off the rush</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">5-4 Flames</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan 27 (Lindholm 29) 17:43 third</td>
<td style="height: 22px">Wrist shot off the rush.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5-5 tie</td>
<td>Meier (Couture, Heed) 19:03 third</td>
<td>Wrist shot off face-off win.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6-5 Flames</td>
<td>Ryan 12 (Lucic 19, Giordano 31) 19:25 third</td>
<td>Rebound off initial point shot.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>Three Stars</strong></h2>
<ol>
 	<li>Sean Monahan (Flames)</li>
 	<li>Brent Burns (Sharks)</li>
 	<li>Johnny Gaudreau (Flames)</li>
</ol>
<h2><strong>Updated Standings</strong></h2>
With the win, the Flames improve to 41-29-7 and have 89 points. Updating the remainder of the relevant Western Conference standings with <a href="https://theathletic.com/1676721/2020/03/27/by-the-numbers-what-if-the-nhl-season-wasnt-suspended/">the Athletic's game-by-game projections</a>, here's how things look at the end of the night on March 23.

<strong>Pacific Division</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Vancouver - 92 points</li>
 	<li>Vegas - 90 points</li>
 	<li><strong>Calgary - 89 points</strong></li>
 	<li>Edmonton - 88 points</li>
 	<li>Arizona - 79 points</li>
 	<li>Anaheim - 73 points</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles - 67 points</li>
 	<li>San Jose - 63 points</li>
</ol>
<strong>Wild Cards</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Minnesota - 89 points</li>
 	<li>Edmonton - 88 points</li>
 	<li>Nashville - 83 points</li>
 	<li>Winnipeg - 82 points</li>
</ol>

Post-Sim Wrap-Up: Flames beat Sharks 6-5

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