Sharks’ comeback for naught in shootout loss

San Jose had a golden opportunity to win late in regulation but failed to convert on a full two-minute 5-on-3, even against a back-up goalie, Jonas Hiller, who was forced to enter the game with just three minutes remaining when Karri Ramo injured his left leg.

[...] rookie defenseman Dylan DeMelo scored his second of the season as San Jose converted a third power play in six chances at 5:55 for a 5-4 lead.

[...] Calgary defenseman Kris Russell crashed the net to punch home his fourth of the season at 8:08 on the power play.

A strong second period that featured the Sharks outshooting the penalty-plagued Flames 11-4 enabled the hosts to trim their deficit to one on the strength of two power-play strikes.

Couture scored his fifth 48 seconds into the middle period, taking a cross-ice feed from defenseman Brent Burns and beating Ramo with a wrist shot from the left circle.

The Sharks played possibly their worst period of the season to open the game, allowing four goals in the first 13:26.

Braun’s bad clearing pass was picked off by Sam Bennett in neutral ice, and the Calgary center skated to the top of the right circle before beating Stalock with a low shot to the far corner of the net at 4:12 for his 15th goal.

[...] the Flames needed only 29 seconds to convert a Couture minor when defenseman Mark Giordano’s wrister from the left circle deflected off Braun’s stick past Stalock at 5:18.