Calgary Flames maintain better structure in Toronto Maple Leafs win

TORONTO – All measured regulatory losses are equal to the ranking.

The bitter aftertaste of the Calgary Flames' 9-1 defeat by the Pittsburgh Penguins at home Thursday is still there – in the best possible way.

Two days later and a critical team meeting, they turned around and pushed the reigning champions of Washington to a shootout. On Monday, the Flames delivered what goalkeeper Mike Smith called "the best game of the season defenseman" on the road against one of the five scariest hockey offenses, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3- 1 decisively.

"It was time for us to act and do something," said Sean Monahan, a native of Brampton, Ontario, with a grandmother in the stands and a 99-year-old grandfather proudly looking on national television.

After his team had a lot of chances, but like the rest of the participants at the party, he was unable to break a 0-0 stalemate for 40 minutes. Monahan opened the scoring by opening the score in the third period, then 55 seconds later, Elias was orchestrated. Lindholm is a nice winner after sweeping a Mitch Marner puck in the Leafs area.

Six years in the league, Monahan did not remember scoring or winning in his hometown NHL until tonight.

"Just the character. You lose 9-1, you're booed from your own rink – it's embarrbading, "said Monahan. "Come here and get two points, it's huge."

Many families here watch the boys play, including Sam Bennett's sister, Kaitlyn, bottom left, and Sean Monahan's grandmother above. Thank you for encouraging us !!#CGYvsTOR pic.twitter.com/FXPMU7Q681

– The Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 30, 2018

Gaudreau praised the talents and skills of his compatriot Lindholm. The other Noah Hanifin player had six shots, a high overall, and now leads all Flames with eight goals – Calgary's first skater to have scored as many goals in 11 games in more than 10 years 11 to start 2007-08).

Lindholm's position on the top line was fast and natural, an easy counterpoint for those seeking a promotion from James Neal.

"He has an excellent exit," Gaudreau said. "When I throw it at him, it's stuck and removed in half a second."

Starting with Monahan, Flames coach Bill Peters counted eight Ontario boys on his starting card and accurately predicted the extra jump for the annual trip.

"You can not help but get up for such games," Smith said before the game. After losing his last three starts, the veteran could not help comforting himself knowing Auston Matthews would not get dressed.

"Whenever one of the best players in the world is not in the lineup, it's unfortunate for him and his team, but I guess we catch him at the right time. That said, they still have a lot of weapons. It's not like he's going out and their alignment is going to shit.

"We still need to be on our game tonight."

What they did. Arms silenced. We would even pbad Calgary's rating to an A +.

After throwing the puck, the Flames sated more desires, maintained a better structure and put an end to Toronto's quick attack and the 18,989 people who paid good dollars for sloppy pbades and limited emotions at the Scotiabank Arena.

The Maple Leafs gave the puck 26 times, twice as often as their guests.

"If our group can understand that we need to check our odds and be proud of the way we played in our D zone, I think we have a chance to be really good," Peters said.

"We're learning how to handle the puck, eliminating some of the risks of our game. If we continue to do that, we can have a good team before it's over."

Smith was rock solid when he needed to be, but his foil at the other end, Frederik Andersen, had to be spectacular to keep the game within reach.

The Leafs' only goal was a shot by Nazem Kadri, who was late on a 69-second 5-on-3 power play with a tense interference from Mark Giordano that Peters questioned after the match ended:

Leafs winger Zach Hyman said the Peters and Mike Babbad teams use a similar style, but only one was played tonight.

"I just thought that they were prepared, I thought they were skating, I thought they were working, I thought they were coming out of their area and were beating on the ice," he said. said Babbad.

"The game is frustrating when the other team is working harder than you."

While the Flames Road Warrior was piling into a bus to cross the QEW in the night until Buffalo for the second half of their return, they cited that victory as an example of what they are capable of , how they can play when motivated and working in unison.

"When we play well, we can play against the best," Lindholm said. "And tonight we did it."

Smith, another Ontario boy, crowned the closing effort Monday in Toronto.

The Calgary Defense Force has long been one of the best on paper, but on Monday, with TJ Brodie flashing old and Travis Hamonic looks healthy and inspired – he actually looked like one of best on the ice.

"A huge victory. We just played together as a team. We made it difficult for two very good hockey teams during the transition and to have every chance to rush. It's hard to play like that, but it's rewarding when you win. And when you deserve to win hockey games, it feels really good, "said Smith.

"We realize the differences between Pittsburgh and tonight."