Flames goalie David Rittich blanks Maple Leafs, ends Auston Matthews’ point streak

AP Published 10:44 p.m. ET Feb. 22, 2021

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TORONTO – David Rittich made 34 saves for his first shutout of the season and fourth of his career as the Calgary Flames beat NHL-leading Toronto 3-0 on Monday night.

Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan each had a goal and an assist, and Sam Bennett added a goal for Calgary.

Rasmus Andersson added two assists for the Flames, who had lost four of five in regulation and had been outscored 14-3 in three straight losses, including a 7-1 decision to Edmonton on Saturday.

Michael Hutchinson stopped 30 shots in a surprise start for Toronto (14-4-2).

Both teams announced just before the game that they would be without their No. 1 goalies. Frederik Andersen sat out for the Leafs with a lower-body injury. Jacob Markstrom, who was pulled in his last two starts, didn’t dress for the Flames because of an upper-body ailment.

Toronto, which was looking to secure its best start in franchise history through 20 games and entered play atop the North Division and NHL standings, hosts Calgary again Wednesday back at Scotiabank Arena.

Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews gets tied up by Flames defenseman Mark Giordano as goalie David Rittich keeps a close eye on the loose puck.

 (Photo: The Associated Press)

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Auston Matthews, who leads the NHL with 18 goals, had his 16-game point streak halted two short of the franchise record held by Darryl Sittler and Ed Olczyk.

Minus injured forwards Joe Thornton and Zach Hyman, Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe loaded up his first line with the struggling John Tavares joining Matthews and Mitch Marner. But the Maple Leafs looked out of sorts from the get-go.

Down 1-0 through 20 minutes, Toronto had three great chances to tie the game on the penalty kill in the second period, but Rittich stopped Ilya Mikheyev on two breakaways and Jason Spezza on a 2-on-1 rush.

Calgary eventually struck on the power play after Mikheyev’s second miss when Tkachuk tipped Mark Giordano’s point shot past Hutchinson at 9:28 for his sixth goal of the season and the 100th of his NHL career.

Monahan, who returned after missing two games with a lower-body injury, banged home his third on a Calgary power play at 3:26 to make it 3-0.

Calgary went up 1-0 at 3:55 of the first when Andersson’s point shot hit the stick of Tavares before trickling through Hutchinson, allowing Bennett to tap over the line for his third.

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