Calgary Flames vs San Jose Sharks Picks and Predictions April 13th 2025

Flames Cling to Playoff Hopes in Must-Win Clash With Sharks

With just three games left in the regular season, the Calgary Flames are hanging on to their postseason aspirations by a thread. On Sunday, they’ll welcome the San Jose Sharks, who are out of playoff contention but still playing with heart. For the Flames, this game is a critical step in their quest for a miracle finish to the year.

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Flames Refuse to Fold in Final Push

The Flames (38-27-14, 90 points) are still mathematically alive in the Western Conference playoff race, sitting a few points behind both the Wild and Blues for a wild-card spot. Friday’s 4-2 win over Minnesota was crucial not only for the standings but also for the team’s morale.

“I liked that we were going for it right away, we weren’t sitting back,” said captain Mikael Backlund. “We were hungry to win the game. We were an excited team coming out.”

Calgary jumped out to a commanding four-goal lead before the Wild trimmed it late, but the Flames never looked back. That sense of urgency and focus will be essential if they hope to defy the odds and become just the second team in NHL history to overcome a five-point deficit in their final four games to reach the playoffs — a feat last achieved by the 1958-59 Toronto Maple Leafs.

“We still have to battle, we still have to win games,” said goaltender Dustin Wolf. “We’re gonna need some help… but we need to take control of our own game the last three, and find a way to get them.”

Calgary has dominated San Jose recently, winning all three matchups this season and 10 of the last 11 overall.

Sharks Playing Spoiler With Pride

The Sharks (20-48-11) are again at the bottom of the NHL standings, but that hasn’t stopped them from fighting in every game. They’ve now dropped eight straight, including a 4-2 loss to the Oilers on Friday, but the young squad continues to battle.

“They’re not looking at the record, they just want to compete and play for each other,” said head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “That’s something we can tip our cap to.”

While the playoffs are out of reach for San Jose, development remains the focus. Rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have both been bright spots down the stretch. Celebrini had a four-game, nine-point streak snapped in Edmonton, while Smith is riding a run of five goals and three assists over his last four outings.

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“We’ve been out of the playoffs for a while, but everyone is fighting for one another,” said forward Alex Wennberg. “We want to be a part of it and give these teams a challenge.”

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A Critical Test for Calgary’s Resolve

The Flames have no room for error. They’ll need to close out the season flawlessly and hope for stumbles from other wild-card hopefuls. While San Jose might seem like an easy target, the Sharks have made it clear they’re not showing up just to go through the motions.

Calgary’s mission is clear: win out and keep the pressure on. Sunday’s clash with the Sharks is just another step in their uphill climb — but it’s one they cannot afford to stumble on.