A three-goal third period ended any chance of the Toronto Maple Leafs getting a win in Calgary.
The Flames potted three markers in the frame and Johnny Gaudreau struck twice as the Flames burned the Leafs, 4-2.
David Rittich had 32 saves in win over Toronto – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
David Rittich made 32 saves for the win.
“Obviously, it wasn’t the start we wanted for our team to start the season,” Gaudreau said. “Started fresh with [Ward] and we’ve been playing really well. We’ve been playing well and it’s showing in our results.”
John Tavares and Mitchell Marner were the Maple Leafs strikers.
“I think giving up one as quick as we did (in the third period), it just seemed we got down on ourselves,” Tavares said. “We just didn’t have a good response after that and didn’t execute very well and gave them too much space in the middle of the ice that let them capitalize on those next couple chances.”
Toronto had an opportunity with a 5-on-3 power play, but the best they could do was a post.
“You get that type of opportunity, we have to find a way to capitalize,” Tavares said. “I had a great opportunity off [Matthews]’s shot. We had some chances to get back in it, but obviously we don’t want to get to that position in the first place. Starting with myself and the way we started the period, we’ve got to be better and when we get opportunities, we’ve got to capitalize.”
Travis Hamonic and Michael Frolik added single markers for the Flames.
“It was a [heck] of a game. A lot of skill out there,” Frolik said. “We knew that they’re a pretty skilled team and they’re rolling under the new coach (Sheldon Keefe) and so are we, so it must have been fun for the fans and overall, it was a good game.”
[WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Flames highlights]
Frederik Andersen made 20 saves in the loss.
“We’ve got the skill,” Marner said. “We’re a hard team to defend when we have it in our hands. I think that was the message, stop throwing the puck away, play with calmness. I think as a team, we’ve got to be way better in these thirds, make sure we have that calmness and make sure we’re not throwing pucks away.”
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