Sharks Stumble Against Flames in Playoff Push

San Jose's playoff hopes take a hit with another loss to Calgary

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:54am

The San Jose Sharks suffered another setback in their quest to end a six-year playoff drought, falling to the Calgary Flames at home on Thursday. A bad line change and other miscues in the third period proved costly for the Sharks, who are running out of time to turn things around and secure a postseason berth.

Why it matters

The Sharks are in a tight race to end their lengthy playoff drought, so losses against non-contending teams like the Flames could prove devastating to their postseason aspirations. Every game is crucial down the stretch, and San Jose needs to avoid the kinds of mistakes that have plagued them in recent losses.

The details

The Sharks had another disappointing outing against the Flames, with a bad line change and other errors in the third period leading to their downfall. Calgary was able to capitalize on these miscues to hand San Jose another loss, further complicating the Sharks' playoff push.

  • The game took place on Thursday, February 27, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose.

The players

San Jose Sharks

The NHL hockey team based in San Jose, California that is fighting to end a six-year playoff drought.

Calgary Flames

The NHL hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta that defeated the Sharks on Thursday.

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What’s next

The Sharks will need to quickly regroup and learn from their mistakes if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their next game is against another non-contending team, making it a must-win if they want to stay in the postseason race.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough blow for the Sharks, who can ill afford any more missteps against lesser opponents as they try to end their lengthy playoff drought. San Jose must clean up the kinds of mistakes that have plagued them in recent games if they want to turn their season around and secure a coveted postseason berth.