Sharks douse Flames, 6-1

The San Jose Sharks didn’t need much time to get on the board in their tournament-opening match against the Calgary Flames on Sunday afternoon, scoring twice in the first  five minutes of the first period on their way to a 6-1 win.

Flames Finnish goalie  Joni Ortio wasn’t at his best Sunday – allowing 6  goals on 23 shots – while his counterparts for the Sharks only surrendered a single penalty-shot goal on 39 shots.

Thomas Heemskerk was spectacular in a busy first period in the Sharks zone and left with a clean sheet halfway through, while J.P. Anderson also kept the Flames at bay in the second half of the contest, stopping one of two penalty shots, and all other Flames opportunities.

The Sharks were led by Brodie Reid, Joe Antilla and Michael Sgarbossa who each had two points in the win. Reid, signed in this past  spring after freshman season with the Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East), played a season in Penticton with the Vees in 2008-09 and seemed at home in the familiar confines of the South Okanagan Events Centre as he scored once and set up another Sharks goal.

The Flames lone tally came from Roman Horak, acquired in the Tim Erixon trade, as he squeaked a backhanded deke past Anderson on a penalty shot awarded in the third period.

Sven Baertschi, the Flames first-round draft pick in 2011,  also earned  a penalty shot granted after he was taken down on a clear break, but he failed to convert the opportunity against Anderson.

The Flames owned the edge in possession and the shots in the first period, directing 16 pucks on target while allowing just 5, but the Sharks got to the intermission with a two-goal advantage and looked the better side for the final two periods.

The Flames return to action Monday afternoon against the Vancouver Canucks at 4:00 PM PST, while the Sharks return to action Monday evening at 7:30 to face the Winnipeg Jets.

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