Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman, left, is checked by Montreal Canadiens' Jordan Harris during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal
CALGARY – Cole Caufield broke a third-period tie and Sean Monahan had a pair of assists against his old team as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Calgary Flames 2-1 on Thursday.
Rookie Juraj Slafkovsky, with his fourth goal of the season, also scored for Montreal (12-10-1), which has won seven of its last 11 games.
Elias Lindholm had the lone goal for Calgary (10-10-3). The Flames are 1-3-1 in their last five.
Jake Allen made 45 stops to improve to 7-8-0. Jacob Markstrom, who was only tested 19 times, had his record fall to 8-6-2.
Tied 1-1 in the third, the Canadiens got a power play six minutes into the period when Andrew Mangiapane was sent off for roughing. He grabbed Josh Anderson from behind after the Montreal forward gave a fake cross-check to Markstrom while the two exchanged words after a whistle.
Montreal entered play in a 1-for-17 tailspin with the man advantage. But on their second power-play of the night, they needed just 31 seconds to convert with Caufield leaning into a one-timer after being set up on a cross-ice pass by Nick Suzuki.
Slafkovsky gave Montreal took the lead just 13 seconds in and the score remained that way until the final minute of the second when Calgary finally drew even.
Lindholm’s attempt to centre the puck from behind the net was steered away by Allen.
While a scramble for the loose puck ensued at one side of the Canadiens’ net, Lindholm curled out front undetected on the other side. When Jonathan Huberdeau ended up corralling the puck, he zipped it across the crease for a tap-in for Lindholm.
In his first game against his former team, Monahan was credited with an assist on the opening goal off a misplay by Markstrom.
The goalie charged out of his net after a loose puck and went into a sideways slide. Monahan was able to sidestep the Flames goalie, avoiding a collision, but Markstrom knocked the puck right to Slafkovsky who stepped around the netminder and fired it into the vacant net.
Markstrom has struggled at times this season. Coach Darryl Sutter rewarded goaltender Dan Vladar for his strong play of late with starts in three of the last four games.
Markstrom’s early miscue drew the ire of the home fans, who responded with a Bronx jeer on his next save that came on a shot from a long way out.
Calgary outshot Montreal 12-6 in the opening period, but couldn’t solve Allen. Their best chance was Blake Coleman’s breakaway with two minutes left but Allen made a pad stop.
MONAHAN’S REVERED RETURN
Monahan was recognized with a video tribute during a first-period TV timeout and waved to the crowd as he was given a standing ovation.
He played 656 games over nine seasons with the Flames. Coming off his second hip surgery, he was traded to Montreal in the off-season.
GALLAGHER OUT
Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher (lower body) missed his first game of the season. AHL call-up Rem Pitlick didn’t arrive in time to play so defenceman Chris Wideman took some shifts at forward.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Game 2 of Montreal’s four-game road trip goes Saturday night in Edmonton.
Flames: Calgary’s five-game homestand continues Saturday against the Washington Capitals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2022.
