The difference between Mike Smith and Aaron Dell in the San Jose Sharks’ 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames wasn’t simply goals allowed.
Calgary’s goaltender made a subtle but significant impact with his skating and passing, of all things.
After Timo Meier opened scoring for San Jose in the first period, the Sharks' offense was unable to establish much on the forecheck and the cycle. In a 27:08 stretch between the Meier goal and the end-of-the-middle-frame Mark Giordano penalty, San Jose recorded just four shots, and only one off the cycle, the Kevin Labanc tip-in that went off Smith’s mask.