Calgary Flames @ Toronto Maple Leafs 10/29/18 (12/82): No Auston Matthews, Flames Dodge A Bullet?

Calgary Flames @ Toronto Maple Leafs, 5 PM MT, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto ON

Calgary Flames 5-5-1 (11) – Toronto Maple Leafs 8-3-0 (16 points)

NHL Standings

You never like to see a player hurt, especially when it’s one of the league’s most dynamic players, but Calgary may have dodged a bullet Monday night. Auston Matthews was hurt in the second period of the Leafs 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night and will miss Monday’s contest with Calgary in Toronto.

But before you start celebrating a Flames win, it’s not like this is an easy game for the Flames. Calgary has dropped 3 in a row and 4 out of their last 5. The guys in red seem to have a goaltending problem and there doesn’t seem to be an easy fix. Mike Smith has been a shadow of his last year self and while David Rittich has looked extremely solid in his spot duties this season, there’s no indication the Flames are going to make a switch and make Rittich the #1. Calgary’s PP is atrocious and the defence pairings are a mess as well. Still confident?

Then there’s Toronto. They have 3 players in the Top 20 in scoring: Auston Matthews #8 (16 points), Mitch Marner #10 (15 points) and Morgan Rielly #15 (14 points). The Leafs are in a 3 way tie for first in the league in GF with 41. They are second in the NHL in PP% at 32.1%. Frederik Andersen leads all NHL goalies with 6 wins. AND they’re tied with Nashville for the best record in the NHL at 8-3-0. So, yeah, there’s all that.

Matthews being out is a huge blow to the Maple Leafs, but there’s still plenty of fire power to go around and with the Flames still searching for an identity, this game is a wildcard for sure. If you want to pile on the negativity, the Flames are 2-8 in their last 10 visits to Toronto, including losing the last 5 times they’ve played there. I’m done.

Team Leaders

Calgary Flames

Goals: Lindholm (7), Points: Gaudreau (14), PIM: Tkachuk (10), Save%: Rittich (.933)

Toronto Maple Leafs

Goals: Matthews (10), Points: Matthews (16), PIM: Leivo (7), Save%: Andersen (.916)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Toronto Maple Leafs Coverage: Pension Plan Puppets

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 3 Washington Capitals 4 (SO) (recap)

Toronto Maple Leafs 3 Winnipeg Jets 2 (recap)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F): 5 G, 9 A, 5 points in last 5 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner (C): 4 G, 11 A, 5 points in last 5 games.

by Mark Parkinson