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Last season, it took 2 1/2 months for the San Jose Sharks to earn their fifth home win.It would take a losing streak of epic proportion at the SAP Center at San Jose for that to happen in 2016-17.The Sharks will try to remain perfect at home Thursday night when they face the Calgary Flames, who hope to regain some scoring touch and avoid a season-worst third consecutive loss.San Jose is the only team in the Western Conference yet to lose on home ice this season, posting a 4-0-0 record. The Sharks dropped to 2-4-0 on the road with a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.I loved our start, said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, whose team led 1-0 after 20 minutes. But thats the thing we need to work most at: When were on top of teams, instead of getting an extra goal and putting them away, we let them hang around.The Sharks have trailed once at home in 2016-17. San Jose allowed a goal 82 seconds into its matchup with the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 12 before rallying for a 2-1 win.A stout defense, led by Brent Burns and goaltender Martin Jones, has been the backbone of the teams success in San Jose. Last season, the Sharks didnt notch their fifth home win until their 15th game, beating Philadelphia on Dec. 30.Coming off a campaign in which he set career-bests for goals (27), assists (48) and points (75), Burns hasnt slowed down in his 13th NHL season. In 10 games, the 31-year-old has 10 points (three goals, seven assists), tying him with Minnesotas Ryan Suter and Montreals Shea Weber for the most among defensemen.In five games against the Flames last season, Burns was the Sharks leader with five assists and seven points. He will be looking for his fourth straight multi-point game against Calgary.Jones has been in net for all four wins in front of the home crowd this season, allowing just four goals on 95 total shots. Overall, Jones is 4-1-0 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in his career against Calgary. In his only career start against the Flames in San Jose, he surrendered two third-period goals en route to a 5-2 victory on Nov. 28, 2015.After scoring 11 goals during a three-game winning streak from Oct. 24-28, the Flames (4-6-1) have been limited to one goal in a home loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday and again at Chicago on Tuesday in the opener of four-game road trip. The trek includes matchups with all three California teams.We need to stick to our system here, Flames forward Alex Chiasson said following a 5-1 loss to the Blackhawks. We cant fall behind. Weve got to regroup here. Were playing three teams in our division, so were going to have to look at what we did ... and fix a couple things.One part of the game Calgary needs to fix is special teams. The Flames are 4-for-41 with the man advantage this season, and they have surrendered at least one power-play goal in four straight games.We have to shoot the puck more, and weve got to execute, Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said Tuesday. We cant be fumbling around and think were going to have a good power play. Weve got to get a little more fluid.Michael Frolik scored short-handed against one of his former teams Tuesday. Frolik leads the Flames with five goals and is tied with Mikael Backlund and Johnny Gaudreau for the team lead with seven points.Mark Giordano was the top scorer for Calgary against San Jose last season with a goal and five assists in five contests. He has failed to register a point in four straight games, and he has just one goal and four assists in 11 games so far.If Brian Elliott gets the start in goal for Calgary, he will be looking for his third straight win in San Jose. In his only game at the Shark Tank last season while with the St. Louis Blues, Elliott turned away all 37 shots faced in a 1-0 victory on March 22. . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. DEL MAR, Calif. -- The presence of the popular California Chrome in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday is expected to boost attendance at Del Mar, but track officials are reluctant to predict the size of the crowd.Craig Dado, Del Mars chief marketing officer, said California Chromes appearance and promotions that include food-truck and craft-beer festivals could produce an audience in excess of 25,000.Chrome is a unique horse, Dado said. He almost has a cult following.Dado said a much larger audience is possible Aug. 20 if California Chrome runs in the $1 million Pacific Classic that day against the three-time champion female Beholder. The two have never raced against each other.The real payooff could be Aug.dddddddddddd. 20, he said.The San Diego Handicap will be the first start for California Chrome since he won the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March.Track president Joe Harper said focusing on a racehorse rather than ancillary promotions such as a concert should please racing purists.I guess my reaction is to expect a good day from something that has four legs and runs around a racetrack and not someone with a short skirt or someone with a guitar on stage, he said. Its about the racing, and its where our hearts are. Hopefully, we can have a successful day. ' ' '
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