*Photo from Eyes on the Prize*
The Montreal Canadiens were 4 points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the last playoff spot in the North Division entering their matchup Monday night. They increased that lead to 6 points. Shea Weber scored, Tyler Toffoli scored the game winning goal, and the Canadiens topped the Flames with a 2-1 win Monday night.
Weber started the scoring on the power play for the Canadiens 9:59 into the first, with his 6th goal of the season to make it 1-0 early. At the 12:17 mark, Elias Lindholm scored on the power play for the Flames, his 15th goal of the season to make it a 1-1 game after one period. In the second, with 1:55 left in the period, Toffoli scored his 25th of the season to make it 2-1 Canadiens, which held.
Toffoli said of scoring the game winning goal that "I think we're all kind of expecting to score the big goals, and that's what everybody wants to do. Things have just been going my way right now. I know other guys that are just waiting to step up and having some really good opportunities and some good looks. We're pushing it and we're trying to find ways here."
Jake Allen got the start for the Canadiens in goal with Carey Price currently injured, and put up a solid performance to get the win, stopping 21 of 22 shots, Lindholm's goal being the only puck that got past Allen. He saw his record improve to 9-9-4 this season with the victory, while the Canadiens got a more firm grasp on 4th place in the North, with a 21-17-9 record.
Weber said of the win that "It's big. Obviously we haven't had much success against them the past two weeks, but there's still a lot of work left to do. That was a step in the right direction. It gives us a little bit more breathing room. Definitely have to keep going."
On the other side, Jacob Markstrom got the start for the Flames in the loss, still putting up a solid game, stopping 22 of 24 shots. Markstrom saw his record drop to .500, with a 17-17-2 record, while the Flames remain 6 points out of a playoff spot, with a 21-24-3 record.
Markstrom said of trying to make the playoffs that "There's no question we all want it. We all want it bad. It's such small coincidences and small margins from being really successful. I feel like we've been on the wrong side of that way too many times this season. Overall this season I feel like we've been on the wrong end, but the belief is there. The guys want it. The guys are ticked off. We don't like to lose."
The Canadiens host the division leading Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night, with Allen expected to start for Montreal. The Flames face the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, with Markstrom expected to start for Calgary.
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