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Greatest Saddledome Games: An epic comeback against the Sharks (April 13, 2008)

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryan Pike

Aug 18, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 14, 2026, 20:15 EDT

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As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: the Flames face some adversity in the post-season, but find a way to win on home ice.

After the run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004, the Calgary Flames struggled to find success in the playoffs. They consistently qualified for the post-season, but they couldn’t find a way to get over the hump – a similar phenomenon occurred after their 1989 Stanley Cup win, where they often made the playoffs but lost in the first round. (Fans jokingly called the post-1989 skid “The Forum Curse,” in honour of the Flames being the only road team to beat the Canadiens for a Stanley Cup in the historic Montreal Forum.)

In the first round of the 2008 post-season, the Flames faced a stiff test against the San Jose Sharks.

The lead up

The Flames made the playoffs in 2008 as the Western Conference’s seventh seed, and were matched up against the Pacific Division winners, the Sharks. They split the first two games in San Jose and headed back to Calgary with the series tied 1-1.

The box score

Yelle Cgy (slashing) – 0:26, first period
San Jose (1-0) – Ryane Clowe (1) (Joe Thornton) PP – 1:31, first period
San Jose (2-0) – Patrick Marleau (1) (Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski) – 3:19, first period
San Jose (3-0) – Douglas Murray (1) (Jonathan Cheechoo, Joe Thornton) – 3:33, first period
Godard Cgy, Carle SJ, Clowe SJ (roughing) – 12:54, first period
Calgary (3-1) – Jarome Iginla (1) (Dion Phaneuf, Adrian Aucoin) PP – 13:22, first period

Tanguay Cgy (hooking) – 2:58, second period
McLaren SJ (elbowing) – 9:53, second period
Calgary (3-2) – Daymond Langkow (1) (Jarome Iginla, Owen Nolan) PP – 10:14, second period
Lombardi Cgy (high-sticking) – 17:51, second period

Calgary (3-3) – Dion Phaneuf (2) (Kristian Huselius, Owen Nolan) – 1:18, third period
Bench Cgy (too many men) – 3:55, third period
Calgary (4-3) – Owen Nolan (1) (Alex Tanguay, Cory Sarich) – 16:15, third period
Phaneuf Cgy (puck over glass) – 16:39, third period

Final Score: Calgary 4, San Jose 3

W: Curtis Joseph (0 goals against on 22 shots), Miikka Kiprusoff (3 goals against on 5 shots, pulled 3:33 into game); L: Evgeni Nabokov (4 goals against on 25 shots)

The aftermath

After the Flames’ epic comeback, the series continued being pretty wacky.

The Flames and Sharks ended up going the distance, with their first round series extending to seven games. The Sharks beat the Flames by a 5-3 score in Game 7 back in San Jose to move on to the second round.

The Flames made the playoffs again in 2009, but then had a few years on the outside of the playoff picture before returning to the dance in 2015.

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