Feb 21, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) with the puck between San Jose Sharks right wing Melker Karlsson (68) and goalie Antti Niemi (31) in the first period during the Stadium Series hockey game at Levis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
By now you already know the San Jose Sharks have been eliminated from playoff contention and will miss the postseason for the first time since the 2002-03 season. San Jose was in solid position heading into the month of February before the wheels fell off.
Although Todd McLellan didn’t want to pinpoint any specific games, that’s just what we’re going to do. Here are five games that helped determine San Jose’s ultimate fate.
Calgary Flames (Feb.4 and Feb.9)
San Jose visited Calgary on Feb. 4 with a two point-cushion over the Flames and sat in fifth place in the Western Conference, six points clear of the final playoff spot. The Sharks gave up three goals during the second period as the Flames seized control of the game and picked up an important 3-1 victory over San Jose.
Just five nights later, it would be the Flames who visited SAP Center and the Sharks. Once again, San Jose held a two-point advantage over Calgary and sat in sixth place in the West, seven points clear of the ninth place Minnesota Wild.
The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Brent Burns scored just before the end of the second period to cut the deficit to one. However, an ugly turnover on the penalty led to a back-breaking Jiri Hudler power play goal, as Calgary rolled to a 4-1 win and pulling even with the Sharks in the standings.
San Jose concluded the season series just 1-3-1 against Calgary and it was the first sign of cracks appearing in the Sharks downfall.
Los Angeles Kings (Feb. 21)
It was the matchup Sharks fan had waited for all season long. The Stadium Series game against the Kings at Levi’s Stadium brought a crowd of more than 70,000 hockey fans to witness the rivalry between San Jose and Los Angeles. Adding to the game was the fact the two teams were only separated by two points: San Jose in eighth with 68 points and Los Angeles in 10th with 66 points.
The atmosphere was electric as the Bay Area faithful were ready for their Sharks to take down the hated Kings. However, Los Angeles struck first on a Kyle Clifford tip-in just 2:46 into the game. San Jose would answer back behind a Burns wrist shot just before the end of the first period.
Burns would turn from savior to goat in the third period as his turnover allowed Marian Gaborik to skate in and slap one by Antti Niemi for the game-winning goal. The 2-1 Kings’ win was their seventh straight victory as Los Angeles surged passed San Jose in the standings.
Vancouver Canucks (March 7)
The Sharks returned home, fresh off a 6-2 pasting of the Canucks four nights earlier in Vancouver, full of confidence and looking to trim the Canucks’ deficit to just two points and pull even with the Kings.
San Jose picked up right where they left off as Melker Karlsson and Joe Thornton gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead. Radim Vrbata would score a critical goal with 39 seconds left in the first period to make it 2-1. Vancouver would get a second period Bo Horvat goal to even things up in the second, before Vrbata scored his second of the night on the power play to seal the victory for Vancouver.
It was a crushing defeat for the Sharks who were in control of the game and failed to capitalize on their opportunities. The loss meant Vancouver would be permanently out of the sights of San Jose the rest of the way.
Winnipeg Jets (March 17)
The Sharks were embarking on a seven-game road trip beginning in Winnipeg knowing that they would need a strong trip to get back into the playoff chase. San Jose trailed the eighth-place Kings by five points and were trailing the Jets by four points heading into their matchup.
However, it was an embarrassing effort from the Sharks that saw them give up a goal just 70 seconds into the hockey game. San Jose would give up two more goals within 13 minutes of action and Niemi would be pulled in favor of Alex Stalock. Joe Pavelski would get one back for the Sharks early in the second, but Winnipeg would seize control with the next two goals.
The 5-2 victory by the Jets felt like the final dagger as the Sharks didn’t show up in their most important game of the year. It was unacceptable from a San Jose perspective to put forth that kind of effort with everything on the line.
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