Lindholm, Tatar making noise on top lines

THE BIG MATCHUP

Flames RW Elias Lindholm vs. Canadiens LW Tomas Tatar

After off-season address changes, these guys haven’t wasted any time endearing themselves to fans in their new home cities. The 23-yearold Lindholm has been a nice fit as sidekick-to-the-stars — specifically, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan — on Calgary’s top line. In fact, the three of ’em currently share the team lead with five goals apiece. After being traded twice in just over six months, Tatar is off to an impressive start in Montreal. The 27-year-old Slovak is tops among Habs with eight points.

FIVE STORYLINES

Pursuing St. Patrick

It’s only a matter of time before Canadiens stalwart Carey Price equals a franchise icon. The Flames are hoping to delay his ascent. With his next triumph, the 31-year-old Price will tie Patrick Roy for second on the Habs’ alltime wins list among goaltenders, with 289.

At the other end?

Flames backup David Rittich delivered the best performance of his NHL career in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers, racking up 44 saves in a first-star showing on Broadway. Question is, did Rittich earn a second consecutive start or will Mike Smith be back?

Together again

After being separated during Sunday ’s opening period in the Big Apple, the Flames reunited their top defence pairing of Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie for Monday’s practice in Montreal.

Gaudreau an early riser

Johnny Gaudreau needed only 320 games to reach the 300-point plateau with his second snipe Sunday, the sixth-fastest in Flames’ franchise history to hit that mark and the most rapid rise in a quarter-century. Going back further, only Kent Nilsson (215 GP), Joe Nieuwendyk (260), Theoren Fleury (291), Tom Lysiak (312) and Gary Suter (319) hit 300 points in fewer appearances.

Catching up with Kulak

Traded to the Habs at the tailend of training camp, former Flames defenceman Brett Kulak will have to wait for his first tangle with his ex-teammates. Kulak remains in the minors with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

FLAMES LINEUP

Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau — Sean Monahan — Elias Lindholm

Matthew Tkachuk — Mikael Backlund — Michael Frolik

Sam Bennett — Derek Ryan — James Neal

Dillon Dube — Mark Jankowski —GarnetHathaway

Defence

Mark Giordano — TJ Brodie Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson

Juuso Valimaki — Michael Stone Goaltenders

Mike Smith

David Rittich

CANADIENS LINEUP

Forwards

Tomas Tatar — Phillip Danault — Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin — Max Domi — Artturi Lehkonen

Paul Byron — Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Joel Armia

Nicolas Deslauriers — Andrew Shaw — Charles Hudon

Defence

Karl Alzner — Jeff Petry Mike Reilly — Noah Juulsen Xavier Ouellet — Jordie Benn Goaltenders

Carey Price

Antti Niemi

INJURIES

Flames — D Travis Hamonic (facial fracture)

Canadiens — C Tomas Plekanec (back), D David Schlemko (knee), D Shea Weber (knee)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Power play

Flames: 18.2 per cent (6-for-33) Canadiens: 17.2 per cent (5-for29)

Penalty kill

Flames: 79.3 per cent Canadiens: 72.7 per cent