San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) and Calgary Flames right wing David Jones (19) battle for the puck during the first period of their NHL game on Tuesday. (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

By Curtis Pashelka in Calgary/Contra Costa Times (TNS)


The Sharks’ fourth straight loss on Tuesday makes last month’s record-setting 6-0 trip a distant memory.
The December swoon continued as the Sharks fell behind by two goals in a forgettable second period and never recovered in a 4-2 loss at Calgary.
The Sharks allowed even-strength goals to Michael Frolik and Mikael Backlund 6:32 apart in the second period to fall behind 4-2.
They might have had a chance to recover if not for a constant parade to the penalty box, which snuffed out almost any chance they had of cutting into the Flames’ lead.
The Sharks ended up having to kill a season-high seven power plays, including five in the second period.
“It’s disappointing when you beat yourself,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “We took eight minor penalties, handed them another couple goals on odd man rushes. Uncharacteristic stuff for us that we have to clean up.”
“Anyone can kill a couple penalties,” Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said. “When you have to start killing five, six or seven, it takes a lot of the meat of the game away.”
San Jose has now lost five of six, including four straight, to cling to a second-place tie in the Pacific Division. The Sharks have 28 points, just four more than the Flames and Edmonton Oilers, who share sixth and last place. The Sharks next face the Oilers
and former coach Todd McLellan at Rexall Place.
Pavelski said the Oilers’ coaching staff, which includes former Sharks assistants Jay Woodcroft and Jim Johnson, helped a lot of the Sharks players develop during their tenures in San Jose. “But it’s not about us versus Todd,” Pavelski said.
“It’s the Sharks versus the Oilers, and we need points right now. We need to worry about our game.”
Sharks starting goalie Martin Jones officially allowed three goals on 14 shots. He was pulled with 16:34 left in the second period after it appeared the Flames went ahead 4-2.
With the Sharks trailing by a goal, Johnny Gaudreau set up Sean Monahan for what was initially thought to be his ninth of the season.
But after a challenge by DeBoer, the goal was called back as it was discovered the Flames were offside. Jones remained out, but it hardly mattered.
At even strength, Backlund was given some space at the edge of the left circle, took a pass from Mark Giordano and beat backup goalie Alex Stalock with a wrist shot 8:59 into the second period for a 4-2 Flames lead.
The Sharks and Flames were tied 2-2 following the first period, but Calgary took the lead 2:27 into the second period on a goal by Frolik.
Five Sharks skaters almost surrounded Frolik, but he was untouched as he batted in a loose puck beside Jones.
“I don’t know if I blamed (Jones) for any of them,” DeBoer said. “We wanted to make a change. We wanted to shock the team a little bit. At the same time, we need our best players to be better than their best players, and that includes our goalie.”
Despite two power-play chances, the Sharks were unable to beat Flames goalie Karri Ramo in the third period. Ramo finished with 31 saves, including nine in the third.
Chris Tierney and Joe Thornton scored for the Sharks in the first period, as Tierney’s goal tied the game 1-1 and Thornton’s power play marker evened the game at two.
Logan Couture, in his first game since Oct. 13, assisted on Thornton’s goal for his first point since October 10. He was on San Jose’s second line with Patrick Marleau and Joel Ward. Couture took two minor penalties, won three of eight faceoffs and finished with 12:38 of ice time.
“It was OK. Some good moments and obviously some tough moments, a couple penalties that I took that cost the team and killed some momentum in the second,” Couture said. “Got to be better moving my feet through the neutral zone and offensive zone. Can’t take an O-zone penalty.”
Results
Chicago    4    Nashville    1
Dallas    6    Carolina    5
Washington    3    Detroit    2
Toronto    3    New Jersey    2
Florida    2    Ottawa    4
Calgary    4    San Jose    2
St. Louis    4    Arizona    1
Philadelphia    3    NY Islanders    4
Columbus    2    Los Angeles    3