By Canadian Press

Flames top Sharks 5-3, clinch conference, division crowns

Mar 31, 2019 | 9:05 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Calgary Flames scored three times in less than two minutes late in the first period on their way to clinching the top spots in the Western Conference and the Pacific Division with a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.

Sean Monahan, Mark Jankowski, Dalton Prout, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik all scored for Calgary, which won for the eighth time in 11 games. The Flames will have home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

It’s the first time in 13 years that the Flames have won their division.

Timo Meier and Logan Couture each had a goal and an assist and Kevin Labanc also scored for the Sharks, who lost for the eighth time in nine games after winning six straight.

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The Flames held San Jose to a season-low 15 shots. The Sharks’ previous low was 20 against Boston on Feb. 26. San Jose managed just nine shots through the first two periods, and just three in the second.

Calgary trailed 1-0 on Meir’s 30th goal when Monahan tied it with his 34th at 14:45 of the first period.

Janikowski scored his 34th goal just 31 seconds later, and Prout scored his first of the season at with 3:47 left in the period to put the Flames up 3-1.

Sharks goalie Aaron Dell had 23 saves.

Backlund scored in the second period, and Frolik in the third to cap the scoring for Calgary.

NOTES: Couture has eight points (five goals, three assists) in his last six games. … Flames C Sam Bennett (lower-body injury) missed his fifth straight game. … Dell had given up 14 goals in his previous four games. … Sharks F’s Melker Karlsson and Lukas Radil (lower-body injuries) each missed their second straight game.

UP NEXT

Calgary: At Los Angeles on Monday night.

San Jose: At Vancouver on Tuesday night.

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More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

Gideon Rubin, The Associated Press