Backup David Rittich made 21 saves in a 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Saturday and is 5-1-0 this season. Smith is 5-5-1 with a 3.66 goals-against average and .872 save percentage. Calgary forward James Neal needs one point for 500 in his NHL career. The Sharks are home after losing road games to the Dallas Stars on Thursday and the St. Louis Blues on Friday. San Jose is 2-3-1 in its past six games and has allowed four goals in six of its past eight. Sharks forward Tomas Hertl (concussion) skated on the second line during practice Saturday and hopes to return after missing three games. Forward Joe Thornton needs one goal for 400 in his NHL career and one assist to tie Mario Lemieux (1,032) for 11th place on the all-time list.
Players to watch
Flames center Sean Monahan is one point shy of 300 in the NHL. Sharks center Logan Couture has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his past 12 games. He'll play his 600th NHL game.
They said it
"That was a complete effort from our group. I thought it was a good game for us, and something to build on going into [Sunday] -- Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic after scoring the only goal against the Kings "The last two games haven't been good. We're not going to make more out of it than it is. We were playing some pretty good hockey up until the last two games." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer
Neither team had a morning skate. ... Ryan is expected to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against St. Louis.
Stat pack
Tkachuk has three goals and three assists in his past five games. Frolik needs one assist for 200 in his NHL career. ... Burns has 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in his past 14 games. ... Erik Karlsson needs one assist for 400 in the NHL.
