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 After sitting out the previous three games as a healthy scratch,
Granlund returned to Calgary's lineup on Tuesday and had a goal and
an assist as the Flames edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 at the
Scotiabank Saddledome.
"Every time when you get a chance, you have to show that you've
earned it," said Granlund, who drew back into the lineup due to
Calgary coach Bob Hartley's decision to bench left winger Johnny
Gaudreau and centers Sean Monahan and Lance Bouma for disciplinary
reasons. "I didn't want to think about it. It's just a hockey game.
You have to play with the guys who are playing."
Hartley commended Granlund for making the most of his chance and
scoring his first goal since Dec. 10 to snap a 20-game drought.
"He played a great game," said Hartley. "We have some great young
players that are ready."
As for his decision to sit Gaudreau, Monahan and Bouma, Hartley
explained that the trio broke team rules.
"They didn't rob a bank," Hartley said. "They made a mistake and
tonight they paid for it and it's the last time we address it.
They're great kids. It's nothing bad on them. Who didn't make
mistakes when they were young? Everyone."
Defenseman Dougie Hamilton also had a goal and an assist for the
Flames (24-25-3), while center Mikael Backlund and left winger
Micheal Ferland also scored.
Making his second consecutive start, goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped
33 of 36 shots he faced in the Calgary net to improve his record to
7-5-1.
Dealing with distractions of their own, the Maple Leafs (19-24-9)
dropped their second straight road decision on a day when defenseman
(and former captain) Dion Phaneuf was traded to the Ottawa Senators
in blockbuster nine-player deal.
"It came as a big shock to our group," said center Peter Holland,
who scored one of Toronto's three goals to snap a 12-game goalless
drought of his own. "Obviously we've lost a great leader in our
dressing room. He's a big personality in here. It was a lot quieter
today around here without him. He's going to be missed."
Left winger Josh Leivo and defenseman Jake Gardiner scored for the
Leafs, while goalie James Reimer finished with 18 saves. Defenseman
Frank Corrado chipped in with two assists.
"Obviously it was tough all day long and we just tried to refocus
for the game," said Gardiner. "I thought we competed well but just
didn't start the way we wanted to."
Toronto trailed 2-1 after one and 4-2 after two before Gardiner
scored the lone goal of the third period when he tucked a wrist shot
under the crossbar behind Hiller.
The Leafs continued to pour on the pressure but weren't able to
notch the equalizer. Right winger Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau had a
good chance to tie the game, but Hiller made a nice pad save with
1:09 remaining in regulation to secure the victory for the Flames.
Granlund gave the Flames a 1-0 lead at 10:40 of the first period
when he took a breakaway pass from right winger Michael Frolik and
snapped a quick shot to the short side past Reimer.
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Only 54 seconds later, the Leafs answered with a power-play goal as
Holland tipped Corrado's point shot past Hiller.
Backlund then put the Flames back up by a goal during a man
advantage of their own at 18:03 of the first when he redirected
Hamilton's point shot over Reimer's right shoulder and into the top
corner.
Late in the first period, Flames defenseman and captain Mark
Giordano levelled Maple Leafs center Nazim Kadri with a big hit in
front of the Calgary net. Shaken up on the play, Kadri skated back
to the Toronto bench and was seen making a throat-slashing gesture
with his hand while yelling at Giordano.
"It's not something that I even remember really doing to be honest,"
said Kadri. "I was kind of in and out a little bit after that hit,
just furious. It was an emotional reaction and that's about it."
Ferland tapped in a nice feed from center Joe Colborne at 4:06 of
the second period before Hamilton's point shot through traffic found
its way in behind Reimer 10 minutes later to give the Flames a 4-1
lead.
Leivo then took a pass from left winger Rich Clune and wired a
perfect shot to the top corner over Hiller's blocker to cut
Calgary's lead to two goals with 2:43 remaining in the second.
NOTES: C/LW Joe Colborne returned to the Flames' lineup after
sitting out the previous game. ... The Flames dressed seven
defensemen for the game, including rookie Jakub Nakladal, who made
his NHL debut. ... The Maple Leafs traded their captain, D Dion
Phaneuf as well as RW Casey Bailey, RW Matt Frattin, C Ryan Rupert
and D Cody Donaghey to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday for LW Milan
Michalek, LW Colin Greening, RW Tobias Lindberg, D Jared Cowen and a
2017 second-round draft pick. ... Due to a rash of injuries, the
Maple Leafs recalled LW Josh Leivo, RW/C Mark Arcobello and LW Rich
Clune from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Monday. All three dressed
for Tuesday's game in place of LW Joffrey Lupul (mid-body ailment),
C Tyler Bozak (upper-body injury) and C Shawn Matthias (whiplash).
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