'DEAL' BREAKER

SAN JOSE - As an account opener, awfully easy on the eyes.
"That," agreed goaltender Mike Smith, "was pretty cute.
"Very sweet.
"Nice to see it go in for him, get the monkey off his back. And, as it turned out, a big goal for us. Just the first of many, I'm sure."
Caught with his sails fully unfurled down the right side by an Elias Lindholm pass, James Neal - resembling some large bird of prey - veered hard left and then softly, almost casually, slipped the puck underneath a by-now fallen San Jose goalie Martin Jones.
It gently kissed the post and crept over the goal line.
The Real Deal's first goal in Calgary Flames silks, a game-winner as things turned out, highlighted a 4-3 pre-season victory over a fully-stocked San Jose Sharks team at the Tank.

"Obviously, goalie-wise, you're going to do different things with different guys," said Neal of his audacious strike. "He's a guy I've shot on a lot over the last few years and in the playoffs. We're pretty familiar with each other. So I just wanted to do something a little different.
"You have your favourite moves. I do like to go five-hole. Just tried to freeze him as much as I could and put it back five-hole.
"Happy to see it go in."

And as highlight-reel gorgeous as that one was, Elias Lindholm's first-period tally also belonged in the beauty category.
Restored to the right side on the top line, Lindholm hustled a defender off the puck before executing a bit of cheeky interplay - Lindholm to Johnny Gaudreau and back again - to leave Jones lost at sea and probably in the throes of a Tylenol 3 headache.
The pace was up.
The opposition lineup, top-drawer.
And the Flames responded.
In the doing, they spoiled the San Jose debut of the game's most sought-after off-season acquisition, two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.
"We were really good until they came with a push," said captain Mark Giordano. "But you've got to expect that, in their building and we're up 4-1. I thought they pushed really hard. Their D started playing basically all-or-nothing, holding the line all the time.
"But I thought we did a good job. Our kill was good. Obviously we'll get our PP going.
"A big night for (Lindholm). I think he's been one of our better players throughout camp. You don't get to see much of him in Carolina, but seeing him now, day in and day out … he's a helluva player."

By periods, Calgary led 2-1 and 4-2.
As anticipated, the trailing Sharks saved their best for a third-period push, and Timo Meier offset an earlier shorty by the Flames, cashing a 2-on-1 pass from Evander Kane to pull San Jose to within one, at 10:36.
Calgary held fast from there.
The Flames had constructed their 4-1 lead via Giordano's fourth of the pre-season, shorthanded, Lindholm, Travis Hamomic and Neal.
"Lots of NHL players in the game and that increased the tempo and execution," critiqued Flames' boss Bill Peters. "It's good. Well needed. Good for the coaching staff to see the guys dig in."
The two auditioning for spots or one final look, D-man Jusso Valimaki and winger Dillon Dube, both caught the bossman's eye.
"Valimaki's very steady," praised Peters. "He moved the puck, helped us in transition. Especially in the first 40 minutes we played fast and executed.
"We got back on our heels a little more than I would've liked in the final 20 but he was part of that transition game.
"And Dube's a guy who knows how to play and can play in all situations. And I like the fact that he gives our lineup pace."
Following a practice here on Friday, the Flames close out an extended pre-season commitment Saturday afternoon in Edmonton.