Sharks Get Past Flames

If the San Jose Sharks can just figure out how to overcome the home-ice disadvantage in the Western Conference finals, Mike Rathje says they’re ready to put this series away.

Rathje’s first goal of the playoffs started San Jose’s four-goal second period and Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves in the Sharks’ 4-2 victory over the Flames in Game 4 on Sunday, evening the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

The road team has won all four games in the conference finals, which is bad news for the Sharks: They’ll be back home for Game 5 tonight in the Shark Tank, where they have lost three consecutive playoff games.

But after an impressive effort from nearly all of the Sharks, particularly on defense, momentum might mean something in the series.

“We’re going to go home, get some rest and do exactly the same things we did here,” Rathje said after the Sharks wrapped up their second straight win in the Saddledome. “We know how to win at home, really.”

Rathje, still sporting a black eye from his fight with Chris Simon in Game 3, scored on a long slap shot and later added an assist for San Jose, which jumped all over the Flames in a phenomenal second-period effort.

Rathje normally isn’t an offensive catalyst, but the defenseman’s injury seemed to provide just the motivation he needed.

“We’ve had adversity all year, and we’ve kept going,” Rathje said. “That’s not going to stop us.”

Shark captain Patrick Marleau ended his seven-game playoff scoring slump with a goal and an assist.

Nabokov allowed only two goals in Calgary after yielding eight in the first two games of San Jose’s first trip to the conference finals.

He was nearly perfect in Game 4, allowing only a deflection goal and Simon’s score during a two-man advantage with 39.7 seconds left.

“We can say right now that we do have momentum, but we all know how that can change,” Nabokov said. “If you’re not prepared, if you’re not working hard for even two minutes, it’s gone.”

Jarome Iginla scored early for the Flames, who lost their composure and defensive focus in the second period.

Miikka Kiprusoff, the Flames’ playoff star in the early rounds and in a 49-save performance in Game 1, made only 12 saves and allowed two soft goals before giving way to Roman Turek in the third period.

But the Flames have already been in this situation.

Their previous two playoff series against Vancouver and Detroit also were tied heading into Game 5.

“This one is behind us,” Iginla said. “It’s a best-of-three series now, and we’ve won both of our best-of-threes this season. We’ve always found a way to get out of this, and we’ll try to do it again.”