Leafs edge Flames in shootout, 2-1

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs’ William Nylander scored the decisive goal in the skills competition to defeat the Calgary Flames, 2-1 Wednesday night.

Frederik Andersen was exceptional in the Leafs’ net and made 47 saves to help Toronto to the win.

“It was fun, a lot of emotions and a lot of pucks,” Andersen said. “I felt good. There was a little screen on their goal (in regulation) but I think we did a good job of boxing out and letting me find the puck.”

The Flames threw everything but the kitchen sink at Andersen.

“I thought he was good. When you look at the game by both teams, whether this means anything or not, you’re attempting like 70 shots, it’s ridiculous almost,”Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “But the neutral zone was clogged up and there weren’t a lot of quality chances until the end.”

Morgan Rielly scored in the middle frame to get the Leafs even with Calgary who had taken the lead in the first period.

“You’ve got to stay with it,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “If you look at it, we haven’t been getting any bounces. If you look at their goal, it was just a dump-in, [it] hits an extension, our guys are scrambling in spots to get it and they just put a shot to the net. You just have to take those. But if you keep working and doing the things we were doing, sooner or later you are going to get those bounces.”

Mark Giordano staked Calgary to the lead with his goal in the first.

“We played a good game, we did exactly what we wanted to do, play with energy and put a lot of pucks to the net,” Giordano said. “We’re happy with that, if we play like that we’re going to get two points more nights than not.”

[WATCH: All Flames vs. Maple Leafs highlights]

Mike Smith made 28 saves in the los; the Flames dropped to 14-12-2 on the season.

“I thought in the third period, that was the period I’m most happy about. I think our team carried the play in the third in a tight game and made plays under pressure. We had looks right until the last buzzer really. Overtime is fun, 3-on-3 back and forth and then we lose in a shootout but I thought we played well tonight,” Giordano said after the loss.

Calgary is 1-3-1 in their five games.

Leave a Comment