CALGARY — Don’t mind Martin Jones if he catches a bit of sleep on the post-game flight from Calgary to Edmonton.
The San Jose goaltender made a career-high 47 saves Monday night and Joe Pavelski scored the overtime winner as the Sharks beat the Calgary Flames 2-1.
“I’m feeling okay. I’ll probably be a little tired later,” said Jones, who played four seasons of junior hockey in Calgary.
Jones was on the verge of his sixth shutout when Joe Colborne deflected in a point shot from Mark Giordano after the Flames defenceman gloved down a clearing attempt from Nick Spaling.
The power-play goal at 18:38 came on shot 48, seven more than Jones had faced before in an NHL game. But the Sharks made sure he still got the win.
Brent Burns curled towards the net and centred a pass that Pavelski one-timed past Joni Ortio 19 seconds into overtime.
“He was on. He was reading all the plays. You could see him anticipating everything. It was just one of those performances,” Pavelski said.
Jones improved to 33-17-4 on the season. He is third in the NHL in wins behind Braden Holtby (40) and Corey Crawford (35).
“He was unbelievable, huge save after huge save and he was there for the routine ones. He’s been playing amazing,” said Burns, who also had a goal giving him eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last four games.
Burns’ goal was his 24th, making him the first defenceman to reach that total since Washington’s Mike Green scored 31 in 2008-09.
It was the league-leading 24th road win for San Jose (36-23-6).
Calgary (27-34-5) has won just one of their last seven at the Scotiabank Saddledome (1-5-1). The Flames’ 48 shots on goal was their highest in a game since Nov. 18 2008, when they had 51 against Colorado.
“Coming back with a minute left and then a quick goal in OT, that breaks your heart a little,” said Ortio, who had 21 stops to fall to 1-6-3.
The Flames entered the game 29th overall, only ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I’m very proud of our team,” said Flames coach Bob Hartley. “We’re a young team and sometimes it doesn’t always go our way but the one thing that we have to respect from our team is the effort. The commitment to leave everything on the ice, to play with energy, to play with passion and we’re getting this and that’s step one in the right direction.”
Burns opened the scoring 1:56 into the game when he snapped a shot from the blue line that went through a crowd of bodies in front and found the top corner.
Calgary took over the game from that point, bolstered by getting seven of the game’s eight power plays. Flames rookie Garnet Hathaway, who made his NHL debut a week ago, drew four of the penalties.
“That might be some of the best power-play zone time and chances that we’ve had all year. Could have had three or four easily,” said Colborne. “Give them credit, sometimes you need a goalie to go out and steal you a game. It was a pretty incredible game by Jonesy.”
Notes: Calgary D Jakub Nakladal (eye) did not play. He was replaced by Tyler Wotherspoon, recalled from Stockton (AHL)… Sharks C Melker Karlsson (undisclosed) returned after missing two games due to injury… Johnny Gaudreau entered the night second in the NHL in home points (21-24-45) and tied for 97th in road points (3-15-18).
