The Sharks, one point behind the Flames and Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific Division, have won two straight after a three-game losing streak (0-1-2). Goalie Aaron Dell will start for San Jose. Dell is 5-4-3 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .904 save percentage this season. David Rittich will make his third straight start for Calgary, which has one win in its past five games (1-2-2) after winning eight of nine. Rittich is 4-2-2 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his past eight games.
Players to watch
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in his past nine games. Flames defenseman Mark Giordano has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games.
They said it
"They're first in our division and a top team in the conference and we have an opportunity to overtake that tonight. That's a goal." -- Sharks forward Evander Kane "We've got a chance to be in first place (in the Pacific Division) going into the New Year is a good feeling, but lately our game has slipped a little bit so we're trying to get back on track and get back to the way we want to play." -- Flames forward Sean Monahan
Rittich will make his third straight start. … Frolik will return on a line with Backlund and Tkachuk after missing one game as a healthy scratch.
Stat pack
Hertl has five points (four goals, one assist) in a three-game point streak. ... Gaudreau has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past four games, and 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in his past 19 games. … Monahan has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in his past 14 games. … Tkachuk has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past eight games.
