December 26, 2024

Marner’s goal in 3rd period lifts Maple Leafs over Flames

Marner #Marner

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Mitch Marner’s goal midway through the third period was the winner, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Marner scored Toronto’s fourth goal at 12:14 of the third period. With his assist on an Auston Matthews’ goal, Marner has two goals and four assists in his last four games.

Marner’s been working on his shot and it showed.

“Trying to get more of a shot mentality,” Marner said.

“I feel like I really want to try and make an extra play most of the time, but this year, trying to be more of a threat and more of a guy that can be more of a consistent shooter on net, and kind of change things up a lot on goalies.”

Matthews also had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (6-2-0). Wayne Simmonds and Travis Boyd also scored for Toronto. Defenseman Morgan Rielly had a pair of assists.

“We did a good regrouping in the second getting ourselves back to an even hockey game, but they win from the inside of our slot,” Calgary head coach Geoff Ward said.

“The guy (Marner) is standing right between three of our guys and finds a way to get a shot off. You can’t give up four goals in this league regularly and expect to win games.”

Frederik Andersen stopped 23 of 26 shots for the win.

Johnny Gaudreau scored twice for Calgary (2-2-1). Milan Lucic also scored and Jacob Markstrom stopped 17 shots in the loss.

Maple Leafs backup goaltender Jack Campbell was replaced in the lineup by Michael Hutchinson. Campbell injured his leg in the final minute of Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Flames when Matthew Tkachuk fell on him in a goal-mouth scrum.

Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday that Campbell will be sidelined for “weeks.”

NOTES: After enjoying the gentlest schedule to start the season of any team in the all-Canadian Scotia North Division, the Flames will play 21 games in the next 40 days. … The Maple Leafs wore No. 10 patches on their chests in memory of George Armstrong, who captained Toronto to four Stanley Cups in the 1960s and died this week at age 90. Every Leaf wore No. 10 and “Armstrong” on their back during warm-up. … Flames winger Dillon Dube was scratched for a second straight game with an upper-body injury.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: At Edmonton Oilers for two games, Thursday and Saturday.

Flames: At Montreal Canadiens for two games, Thursday and Saturday.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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