Confident Monahan regains scoring touch
Nine-game point streak puts Flames forward in elite company
The silver lining is sometimes difficult to pick out after a loss like the one on Friday.
But for Sean Monahan, there was a glass-half-full aspect of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 4-1 defeat of the Calgary Flames in that he managed to keep his point streak alive.
At the moment, his nine-game point streak is one of the longest sprees in the National Hockey League other than the Chicago Blackhawks’ Artem Anisimov, who was looking to extend his 11-game run on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, while Claude Giroux’s 10-game streak ended with the Philadelphia Flyers’ 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby’s nine-game streak ended on Friday.
Monahan is in elite company, chasing double digits in Monday’s road clash against the Arizona Coyotes.
“It wouldn’t mean anything, to be honest,” Monahan said. “A point streak is a point streak. At the end of the day, you’re playing on a team and there’s 22 guys battling and you’re looking for the two points.”
After the Flames lost their second straight game on Friday, the pivot knows this team has bigger issues. Still, the point streak is an ego boost.
“It means nothing after a loss,” Monahan said. “But as a player, it gives you confidence. When you’re out there and confident, you’re thinking of making plays and getting into scoring areas. That’s kind of my type of game. When I’m not doing those things, I’m not playing at the top of my game. Confidence is key in this league.”
The 22-year-old’s 10th goal of the year — and fifth goal in this latest prolific stretch — came when he cashed in on a five-on-three power play. Scoring and contributing on the man advantage has been another aspect of his game that has turned around since playing in Brooklyn on Nov. 28. It was then that Glen Gulutzan decided to briefly deploy Monahan on the fourth line and it worked like a charm.
“I thought Monny has competed hard in the hard areas in the last few games,” the Flames head coach said. “He’s obviously got the ability to score and make plays. “But I like his compete.” And there’s no denying after a rough start to the season that saw him count just five goals and three assists in 24 games, Monahan has successfully turned his game around.
In this case, the statistics say it all: Five goals and six assists in nine games.
Monahan has enjoyed much of this success on a line with Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg, while on the power play, his hot streak coincides with Johnny Gaudreau’s return from injury.
“I think the majority of the game is mental,” Monahan said. “The way you think the game is a huge part. Obviously, your work ethic goes into it, too, but when you go out there and you’re feeling it, you’re going to have some good looks.
“If you’re playing big minutes and getting chances on the power play, you’re going to have good chances to put the puck in the net.”