Flames 4, Sharks 3
Olli Jokinen recorded his seventh career hat trick and Miikka Kiprusoff secured his 300th career NHL victory by turning aside 34 shots as the Calgary Flames skated to a 4-3 road triumph over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
Jokinen also assisted on captain Jarome Iginla's third goal in as many contests for Calgary, which defeated San Jose for the first time in six tries and moved to within a point of eighth place in the Western Conference.
After Michal Handzus leveled the contest at 3-3 by converting the Sharks' first power play opportunity, Jokinen regained the lead at 3:25 of the third period.
San Jose defenseman Colin White turned the puck over in his own end, allowing Alex Tanguay to skate in and feed Jokinen, who beat Antti Niemi from the right faceoff circle. The hat trick was Jokinen's first since March 14, 2009.
Originally drafted by San Jose in 1995, Kiprusoff held the fort from there to become the 27th NHL goaltender to reach the 300-win plateau. He preserved the victory by stopping a shot with his legs while he was on his stomach with just over three minutes to play.
All-Star Logan Couture netted his fifth goal in seven contests and Joe Pavelski notched his fourth straight 20-goal season while playing in his 400th NHL game for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks.
Niemi finished with 32 saves to fall to 8-2-0 in his career versus the Flames.