By Canadian Press

Toffoli scores in debut as Flames beat Blue Jackets 6-2

Feb 15, 2022 | 11:29 PM

CALGARY — Newly acquired Tyler Toffoli scored in his Flames debut to help lead Calgary to a 6-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night, extending Calgary’s winning streak to a season-high seven games.

Erik Gudbranson, Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, Dillon Dube, and Adam Ruzicka also scored for Calgary (27-13-6), which moves past Vegas into first place in the Pacific Division, one point up on the Golden Knights. The Flames also hold two games in hand.

Playing the fourth game of a seven-game homestand, the Flames continue to torch their opponents, having also won seven games in a row at the Saddledome, outscoring the opposition 35-8 over that span.

Adam Boqvist and Zach Werenski scored for Columbus (23-23-1), which entered the game on a three-game winning streak and having won five straight on the road. The Blue Jackets wrap up their five-game road trip in Chicago on Thursday.

Making his first start in 39 days and his first home appearance of the season, rookie Flames goaltender Dan Vladar made 18 stops to improve to 7-3-1.

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At the other end, Elvis Merzlikins made his fifth straight start for the Blue Jackets. While less busy compared to three weeks ago in Columbus when he was peppered with 62 shots in a 6-0 loss to Calgary, he still faced 41 shots. His record falls to 17-13-1.

Toffoli’s goal came at 11:04 of the third period. Johnny Gaudreau flipped the puck high in the air with Toffoli chasing it down and neatly putting away his 10th goal as he cut across the net and outwaited Merzlikins.

The half-capacity Saddledome crowd immediately erupted and shortly after, chants of “Tyler Toffoli, Tyler Toffoli” started.

The 29-year-old right winger was acquired Monday in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens. He played on a line with Sean Monahan and Dillon Dube.

The big moment in the game came late in the second with Calgary up 2-1.

First, Jack Roslovic’s turnover resulted in a two-on-one for Gaudreau and Tkachuk and the Flames top two scorers did not squander the chance, executing a perfect passing sequence culminating in Tkachuk’s 22nd goal.

Then in the final minute with the red-hot Blue Jackets power play on the ice – they were four for eight in their previous four games – another turnover allowed Dube and Andrew Mangiapane to race away on a two-on-one with Dube firing a shot past Merlizkins to snap a 13-game pointless streak.

Calgary opened the scoring two minutes into the game on the third goal of the season and second in as many games for Gudbranson. After Milan Lucic won a battle for the puck, sending a pass back to the point, with Gudbranson’s low wrist shot squeaking through Merzlikins.

While the Blue Jackets goaltender should have had that one, he had no chance on the Flames next goal credited to Lindholm. Making it 2-0 at 16:30, Lindholm centred the puck from the corner and Blue Jackets defenceman Andrew Peeke, in attempting to clear the puck away, instead swept it straight into his own net.

The Blue Jackets did answer right back though, cutting the deficit to 2-1 when Patrik Laine’s shot was deflected by defenceman Noah Hanifin, but the puck bounced right to directly to Boquist who in one motion snapped it past Vladar, who was unable to get across in time.

Notes: The last time Calgary has scored four or more goals while piling up six wins in a row was March 1988… Brett Ritchie was the Flames change at forward, opening up a spot for Toffoli. Ritchie has no points in 24 games… Flames improve to 11-1-2 against the Metropolitan division… Toffoli is the first player to wear No. 73 for the Flames… Calgary has outscored its opponent 54-31 in the first period.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2022.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press