The Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames each snapped pronounced losing streaks on Saturday.
On Monday, one of those teams will look to pick up a second consecutive victory at the other’s expense when they meet in Calgary.
William Nylander made his presence felt in his return from injury on Saturday, scoring in a shootout to help the Maple Leafs halt a six-game slide (0-5-1) with a 3-2 victory over the reeling Vancouver Canucks.
Nylander showed no ill effects of the groin injury that sidelined him for seven games after he scored on a backhand deke in the first round of the shootout.
Although Nylander technically was held off the scoresheet on Saturday, he had totaled six goals and six assists in his previous six games. Nylander leads the team in both assists (31) and points (48).
Captain Auston Matthews, who boasts a team-best 26 goals, atoned for being stopped on a penalty shot with 1:14 left in overtime by converting in the extra session on Saturday.
“I came down with an idea what I wanted to do, and it obviously didn’t work out but coming down that first time, I was just going to stick to my guns, but I thought there was some room there on that glove side,” Matthews said. “Luckily, I got that second opportunity in the shootout, and I didn’t want to make that mistake twice.”
Matthews effectively made a winner out of Joseph Woll, who finished with 28 saves as the Maple Leafs recorded their second win in the last 10 games (2-6-2).
“Big to get back in the win column,” Woll said. “And I thought an unbelievable third period by us, really setting the tone for the rest of the game, overtime, and two big goals by our big dogs in the shootout and that’s a great win. From here on out, we need every game pretty badly, so it’s going to be playoff mindset.”
Max Domi scored early in the third period on Saturday to extend his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists).
Domi joined Matthew Knies in tallying twice in Toronto’s 4-3 win over Calgary on Oct. 28. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in that game and may draw the start again on Monday.
Joel Farabee, who scored in the previous encounter versus the Maple Leafs, converted with his team short-handed at 6:53 of the third period to lift the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Farabee is tied for the NHL lead with four short-handed goals.
Morgan Frost scored a goal for the third time in four games for the Flames, who halted a five-game slide (0-3-2).
“It’s nice to produce, for sure,” said Frost, who also scored against Toronto earlier this season. “I was definitely going through a rough stretch there before and I’m just trying to build it back. I thought (Saturday) was one of my better ones of the year.
“I think that’s always been the thing with me, though, is keeping it going for a long stretch of time. I’m not going to be satisfied with that.”
–Field Level Media
