Sharks beat Flames 3-1 in regular-season finale
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Even a win to end the regular season wasn’t enough to help the San Jose Sharks open the playoffs at home after blowing a nine-point lead in the division in the final month.
Chris Tierney scored one goal and set up Mikkel Boedker for another in the second period to help the banged-up Sharks beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 in their regular-season finale Saturday night.
The defending Western Conference champion Sharks dropped nine of their final 12 games to fall from first to third place in the Pacific Division. They will need to pick up their play when they open the playoffs against either Edmonton or Anaheim in a few days.
“We’ve played long stretches of real good hockey this year,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “I think we’ll get healthy, get our guys back. They know the level that they have to play at when this time of year starts. I have no doubt we’ll be at that level.”