SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Flames are leaving the speedy Sharks in their dust.
Marcus Nilson, Shean Donovan and Ville Nieminen each had a goal and an assist, and Calgary took control of the West final with a 4-1 victory over the Sharks in Game 2 Tuesday.
Nilson matched the fastest goal in Calgary's postseason history, scoring 20 seconds after the opening faceoff. Nieminen and captain Jarome Iginla clinched the win with third-period goals 44 seconds apart, sending the sixth-seeded Flames back home with an improbable 2-0 series lead over the Pacific Division champions.
"We're very excited for sure. This was a big two games," Iginla said. "At the same time, we have to stay focused and approach each game the same way."
Game 3 is Thursday at the Saddledome, where the Flames are just 3-3. But thanks to a 7-2 road record that includes three straight wins, they're halfway to their first Stanley Cup final since 1989, when they won the franchise's only championship.
Miikka Kiprusoff followed his 49-save performance in the opener with just 17 saves, including a handful of fine stops in the final minutes. With a fast start, puck possession and relentless forechecking - three of San Jose's hallmarks - Calgary shocked the sold-out Shark Tank into silence.
Alyn McCauley scored for the Sharks, who lost consecutive games for just the second time since early March. After starting the playoffs with seven wins in eight, San Jose has lost four of five, including three consecutive at home. Its first trip to the conference finals has been humiliating.
Evgeni Nabokov seemed as off-kilter as his teammates, making 16 saves as the Sharks lost in regulation for just the second time.
The Flames scored two goals on their first three shots, immediately putting the Sharks on their heels. San Jose was the NHL's fastest-starting team in the regular season, leading the league in first-period goal differential. But Calgary has seized control of both games in the series, twice taking a 2-0 lead into the second period.
Still, the Flames' first goal was pure luck: Nilson's lazy wrist shot pinballed off a skate and past Nabokov. It was Nilson's first goal since his overtime winner in Game 1 against Detroit.
Donovan, a former Sharks forward, added his fourth goal on a breakaway nine minutes later.
Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren was a last-minute scratch with an upper-body injury.
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KINGS: Forward Anson Carter is recovering from abdominal surgery to repair a sports hernia. He played in 77 games last season for the Kings, Capitals and Rangers. He was acquired by Los Angeles from Washington March 8 in exchange for forward Jared Aulin.
RED WINGS: Defenseman Derian Hatcher was suspended for next season's first three games for elbowing Calgary forward Matthew Lombardi in Game 6 of the West semifinals.
NHLPA FILES GRIEVANCE: The players association issued a grievance over the league's proposal to reduce the width of goaltenders' pads. If the rule change is approved by league owners, the width of goalie pads will be reduced from 12 inches to 10.
"Any proposed changes need to be done with the consent of the NHLPA," the association said.
