The Canadian Press
Darren Haynes
CALGARY–Another big night for Sean Monahan’s line has the red-hot Flames one win away from clinching a playoff spot.
Monahan scored his team-leading 26th goal and added three assists as Calgary won 4-2 over the floundering Colorado Avalanche last night.
“Confidence is big for our club. When we start going and everyone’s playing their role, we’re a hard team to beat,” noted Monahan, whose four-point night ties a career-high.
With six games remaining, Calgary can secure a post-season berth for just the second time in the last eight seasons with a regulation win over the L.A. Kings tomorrow night.
“I’m proud of the guys and the spot they’ve put themselves in,” said Flames’ coach Glen Gulutzan.
“A lot of hard work went into that and now we need to finish it off.”
It’s been quite a turnaround for a club that was 5-10-1 in mid-November.
“There were a few dark days in this locker-room, but what we’ve been able to do from December on has been great for this room and great for this city,” said Troy Brouwer, who scored his third goal in the last four games last night.
“To play a big game against a division rival on Wednesday, and be able to clinch playoffs and get this hockey club back in the playoffs, it means a lot to everybody in here,” he added.
Since Gulutzan put Micheal Ferland on Calgary’s top line with Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau back on Feb. 21, Calgary has gone 14-3-0 and that unit has been among the most productive in the NHL.
Winners of nine of their last 10 games at home, the Flames (43-29-4) remain fourth in the Pacific Division but are within one point of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, who each hold a game in hand.
Sven Andrighetto scored both goals for Colorado (20-52-3).
The last-place Avalanche now have lost six games in a row overall and nine-straight on the road.
“We’re just trying to talk to them about being loose and playing like we have nothing to lose, and making sure that we’re creating enough opportunities,” said Avs’ coach Jared Bednar.
Elsewhere in the NHL, Tampa Bay topped Chicago 5-4 (OT), Buffalo doubled Florida 4-2, Nashville beat the N.Y. Islanders 3-1, Detroit edged Carolina 4-3 (OT), and St. Louis downed Arizona 4-1.
With the Blues’ win, the Winnipeg Jets officially were eliminated from the playoff hunt.
