Invisible offence wastes nice night by Andersen
This was the Maple Leafs’ first game without Auston Matthews this season, and it was clear the team lacked finish and chemistry in the offensive zone in a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Arena. Calgary scored a pair of goals 55 seconds apart midway through the third period to bag the win, with Michael Frolik’s empty-netter sealing it. Sean Monahan, on the power play, and Elias Lindholm were the other scorers for Calgary. Toronto’s league-leading offence could not get into gear until Nazem Kadri scored late in the
third, just as the first penalty on a five-on-three advantage ended. More was expected against a Calgary team that had surrendered 16 goals in its three previous games:
á Offensive stars: Brampton native Sean Monahan broke open a goal-less tie and then assisted on the Flames next goal … Mitch Marner was at his best —making plays, skating elusively, breaking down defencemen — in the second period. The Leafs’ offence will need time to find itself with Matthews out and the forward lines shuffled to make up for it. Kadri’s goal was the 10th powerplay marker for the Leafs this season (10-for-31).
á Defensive stars: Leafs goalie Freddie Anderson was simply brilliant. He stoned James Neal on at least two sure goal chances and had the answer for John- ny Gaudreau and several other Flames who had great opportunities over the first two periods … Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev, exhausted at the end of a long shift in the second period, dove to knock the puck away from Gaudreau, who would otherwise have had a golden chance. Andersen gave him a pat on the back after the play … Connor Brown threw himself in front of a heavy slapshot in the second
period to take away a scoring chance.
á Turning point: Monahan’s goal — 18 seconds after an interference penalty to Leafs winger Zach Hyman. That call certainly didn’t go over well with Leafs fans, who saw light contact between Hyman and a Flames defenceman.
á Talking point: It’s only one game, but there’s sure to be talk about the Leafs’ top two lines. Coach Mike Babcock reunited Marner with his linemates from a year ago: Kadri and Patrick Marleau. Marner was electric as usual, but that line has to generate more, as does the John Tavares line with Zach Hyman and newly promoted winger Kasperi Kapanen. No panic here, but the key to success without Matthews could be how best to utilize Marner, the team’s most creative forward.
á Takeaways: The Leafs have to find another gear in the first period on home ice. They’ve managed just three goals in the first period over seven home games … Is it time to bring up Carl Grundstrom? The Leafs clearly can use some scoring and Grundstrom is second on the Marlies with four goals.
á Up next: The Leafs are home to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.