Team could learn from Monahan's hard work, coach says
Fans in Calgary are accustomed to seeing Sean Monahan's name near the top of the team scoring charts.
While the offence hasn't come as easily — or as often — in 2021, the new boss singled out the 26-year-old centre as the Flames' tone-setter in another significant category.
Monahan provided the opening strike/game-winning snipe in Saturday's 5-0 blanking of the Edmonton Oilers, a slump-busting tally that ends his string of a dozen straight dates without lighting the lamp.
After Sunday's practice, coach Darryl Sutter couldn't have been much more complimentary of No. 23 — and remember, this guy doesn't dish out a ton of praise.
“His work ethic has been right at the top of our team, which is really important and which I think is lacking in the group, to be quite honest,” Sutter said.
“I think his practice habits have been outstanding, which allows him to be a better player during the games. I think to show confidence in him by using him on penalty-killing a little bit has helped him understand that he can be a really good all-around player and still make a good contribution to the team.
It's not necessarily that it always has to be based on goals and assists for somebody like that.
“I think that going forward, he's a guy that you can tell is willing to accept a role and wants to play on a good hockey team.”
Monahan, having been split from longtime linemate Johnny Gaudreau, is currently working between speedy wingers Andrew Mangiapane and Dillon Dube.
Mangiapane did the dishing on Saturday's second-period marker, teeing up the snake-bitten centre for a one-timer from the right circle.
“When you don't score for a while and obviously it's the first one of the game, it feels good,” said Monahan, now with eight goals and 24 points in 39 appearances this season — tied for fifth among Flames in both offensive categories.
“But our focus is to get two points every night. That's my main concern, and that's the same as our team.”
The Flames open a threegame road trip with Tuesday's tilt against the Maple Leafs in Toronto (5:30 p.m., Sportsnet West/sportsnet 960 The Fan).