Flames keep Maple Leafs’ big guns at bay

TORONTO — Booed out of their own building at the conclusion of an embarrassing 9-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week, the Calgary Flames had a decision to make — feel sorry for themselves or recommit to their defensive structure.

Choosing the latter has paid immediate dividends.

Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm scored 55 seconds apart in the third period as Calgary smothered the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Monday to snap a three-game losing streak.

“We put together 60 good minutes,” said Lindholm, who leads his team with eight goals after coming over in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes at the NHL draft. “We were above them all night, first to pucks, won battles.”

Lindholm and Monahan also had an assist each for Calgary (6-5-1), while Mike Smith made 24 saves. Michael Frolik added an empty netter late to seal the win.

The Flames took a step in the right direction after the disastrous Pittsburgh effort by battling back to force overtime against the Washington Capitals on Saturday before falling 4-3 in a shootout to the defending Stanley Cup champions.

They went one better against the listless Leafs, who lacked jump without Auston Matthews after it was announced earlier in the day the star centre would miss at least four weeks with a left shoulder injury.

“Our last two games have been the way we want to play,” Calgary captain Mark Giordano said. “When you play well defensively the goals come.”

Nazem Kadri, playing his 500th NHL game, replied for Toronto (8-4-0). Frederik Andersen stopped 31 shots in the loss.

“I thought they skated, I thought they worked, I thought they sailed out of their zone and beat us up the ice,” said Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, whose club was coming off back-to-back wins over the Winnipeg Jets. “The game is frustrating when the other team works harder than you.”

Monahan snapped a scoreless tie 4:39 into the third on a power play with his fifth of the season and first in nine games off Lindholm’s rebound.

The native of nearby Brampton, Ont., then forced a turnover in the Toronto zone before Johnny Gaudreau found Lindholm, who beat Andersen at 6:34 to double Calgary’s lead.

“We stepped it up,” Monahan said. “We’ve got to start earning wins by ourselves.”

Toronto defenceman Igor Ozhiganov hit the post at the other end on the next shift, with teammate Zach Hyman unable to get to the loose puck.