CALGARY FLAMES (30-24-11) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (39-24-3)
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Arena
TV: Prime Video Radio: The Fan 590
Odds: Flames +113, Maple Leafs -139
The buzz
The Flames have kept themselves in the wildcard race in the Western Conference despite a scarcity of offence. With 166 goals, Calgary is last in the National Hockey League in scoring … The play of rookie goalie Dustin Wolf has had a major impact on the Flames’ playoff hopes. With a 22-13-5 record and a .914 save percentage in 40 games, Wolf is going to get Calder Trophy votes and is on the way to being a shoo-in to be named to the NHL’s all-rookie team. Wolf was drafted in the seventh round by the Flames in 2019 during Brad Treliving’s tenure Calgary’s general manager … Those playoff hopes have taken a potential hit, though, after captain Mikael Backlund suffered an upper-body injury last week. Backlund is out week to week … Since the 2020-21 season, when the Leafs won six of nine against the Flames in the all-Canadian North Division, Toronto has continued to own Calgary. Including a 6-3 win in Calgary on Feb. 4, the Leafs have won six of the past seven meetings. In the past three clashes in Toronto, the Leafs have won each time, including once in a shootout and twice in overtime … William Nylander scored a hat trick and Auston Matthews had three assists in the road win against the Flames last month … Flames centre Nazem Kadri — who never has been adequately replaced by Toronto since former GM Kyle Dubas traded him to Colorado in 2019 — has 11 points (four goals and seven assists) in nine career games against the Leafs. “Naz is our top centreman and I feel he can handle extra minutes,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said on Saturday. “Naz is a competitor, so when he is on the ice against top players, he raises his level as well.”
The news
After starting the game on Saturday against Ottawa with Matthews, Mitch Marner and Nylander on separate lines, Leafs coach Craig Berube had Marner and Nylander together with Scott Laughton in the third period. The changes didn’t lead to the desired result as Toronto lost 4-2. We’ll know at the morning skate what decision Berube has made regarding his forwards … Flames forward Connor Zary will serve the second game of a two-game suspension, levied by the NHL, for elbowing defenceman Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks in a game last week.
The quote
“Coming into this market, it’s not easy, but the way that these guys carry themselves with confidence each day is an example that I would like to follow and be a part of as well. Staying even-keeled is a big thing. I think they’ve been fantastic, and I have a lot of respect for those guys.”
— new Leafs defenceman Brandon Carlo on the team’s leadership group
The poll
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
William Nylander-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
Steven Lorentz-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Goal
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
The injuries
TOR: D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).
CGY: C Mikael Backlund (upper body), F Anthony Mantha (knee), F Justin Kirkland (knee).
The prediction
The Leafs snap out of their funk and win for just the second time in seven home games. 4-1 the final.
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