Mark Giordano broke a tie midway through the second period, Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves and the Calgary Flames beat the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Friday night.
Matthew Tkachuk, Derek Ryan and Christopher Tanev also scored, and Rasmus Andersson had two assists. The Flames improved to 15-13-3, winning for the fourth time in five games since Darryl Sutter returned as coach after Geoff Ward was fired.
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Mark Giordano broke a tie midway through the second period, Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves and the Calgary Flames beat the slumping Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Friday night.
The teams will complete the two-game set Saturday night.
Calgary then connected three seconds after Ilya Mikheyev went off for holding when Giordano blasted a one-timer past Andersen.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) carries the puck as Calgary Flames left wing Josh Leivo (27) and Flames center Derek Ryan (10) chase during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza (19) celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames with teammate Wayne Simmonds (24) during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames defenceman Christopher Tanev (8) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza (19) and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) battle in front during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save in front of Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Wayne Simmonds (24) during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Mitch Marner, Jason Spezza and Alexander Kerfoot scored for Toronto, and Frederik Andersen stopped 14 shots. The Maple Leafs, coming off a four-day break after dropping a pair last weekend, have lost six of seven to drop into a tie for the North Division lead with Edmonton. They had a nine-point division lead March 3.
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Zach Hyman (11) reaches for the puck as Calgary Flames defenceman Juuso Valimaki (6) defends and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) looks on during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
The teams will complete the two-game set Saturday night.
Sporting their white and green St. Pats uniforms, the Maple Leafs tied it at 3 when Marner wristed his 12th past Markstrom at 3:48 of the second.
Toronto defenseman Justin Holl then rocked Johnny Gaudreau with an open-ice hit that drew Calgary’s attention, with Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki going off for roughing. Holl would eventually drop the gloves with Tkachuk in a strange fight where the defenseman went to pick up his gloves after originally dropping them when challenged before both players eventually started swinging their fists.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) slides to make a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Calgary Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki (6) battle during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary then connected three seconds after Ilya Mikheyev went off for holding when Giordano blasted a one-timer past Andersen.
The Maple Leafs got a boost with the return of Wayne Simmonds to the lineup after the winger missed 18 games with a broken wrist. Alex Galchenyuk — the No. 3 overall pick in 2012 now with his seventh NHL organization since June 2018 — debuted for Toronto on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) look for a rebound during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) carries the puck as Calgary Flames left wing Josh Leivo (27) and Flames center Derek Ryan (10) chase during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza (19) celebrates his goal against the Calgary Flames with teammate Wayne Simmonds (24) during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames defenceman Christopher Tanev (8) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save as Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza (19) and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) battle in front during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a save in front of Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Wayne Simmonds (24) during the first period of an NHL action in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)