Calgary Flames (3) @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1): Strong 3rd Puts Flames Past Leafs

Calgary Flames 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1

Complete Stats

Recap

Calgary came into Toronto having not won a game here since 2011 and left with what could be their most complete victory of the season, stopping a 3 game losing. The Flames had a very strong third period which was the difference in a game that didn’t offer much for the first 40 minutes.

Calgary peppered Frederik Andersen early and often, but the veteran netminder held the Flames off the scoreboard for 2 periods, stopping 24 shots through the first 40 minutes. At the other end of the ice Mike Smith didn’t really have a ton of work on the night in the first 2 periods. Smith faced 15 shots early and I can’t think of one that was a real quality scoring chance for the Maple Leafs. But you don’t get more credit for pretty saves than the routine one’s, so keeping them out of the back of the net is what matters most.

The Flames opened the game up in the third period as Calgary’s top line took this game over. Sean Monahan opened the scoring and Elias Lindholm followed shortly thereafter with his 8th goal of the season giving Calgary a 2-0 lead. The last 5 minutes of the final frame got a little hairy as the Flames would take back to back penalties and Nazem Kadri would net his 3rd of the season, getting the Leafs within one. After a weird no goal and a missed empty net by Sam Bennett, Calgary would close the door on a Michael Frolik empty netter with 6 seconds left in the game.

Scoring

Calgary Flames

1st: None

2nd: None

3rd: Monahan (5) (Lindholm/Giordano), Lindholm (8) (Gaudreau/Monahan), Frolik (5) (unassisted)

Toronto Maple Leafs

1st: None

2nd: None

3rd: Kadri (3) (Marner/Rielly)

Final Thoughts

Calgary played a very sound game defensively, especially with Bill Peters starting Valimaki and Andersson together again. When you think defense you typically don’t think of the Flames top line, but they were lock down tonight. Johnny Gaudreau had one of his best defensive games in recent memory, using his speed and stick to slow down two Toronto scoring chances. And when they weren’t playing defence, they were leading the way on offence. Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm both scored and Gaudreau had an assist, so all in all a top notch performance from the Flames top line. Did it help that Auston Matthews was out? Who knows, who cares. This was a solid win for a team that was in serious need of a solid performance.

Flame Of The Game

Elias Lindholm (C): Lindholm continues to be the hottest Flames player, scoring a goal, getting an assist and winning 73% of his faceoffs.

What’s Next?

10/30: Calgary Flames @ Buffalo Sabres, 5 PM MT

by Mark Parkinson