The Calgary Flames scored two goals in the first 49 seconds against the Toronto Maple Leafs to win 3-0.
The Calgary Flames started the game by scoring a goal 19 seconds in, which was Freddie Hamilton‘s first of the season. I check my phone, see someone posted on Twitter “2-0” and I go, “Oh, that was just a typo I guess.” Then I look up from my phone and see Kris Versteeg scoring the second goal, just 30 seconds after the first goal. This is the first time the Flames have scored two goals in the opening minute since 1987 against a team that doesn’t even exist anymore. I mean, they do, but they’ve relocated. You know what I mean. Moving on.
The Flames would end up winning this game 3-0 against the Toronto Auston Matthews. Oh sorry, that was autocorrect! I meant the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Chad
I must say though, the Calgary Flames did have some advantages in this game over the Leafs. First, the goaltenders. Chad Johnson as of late has been absolutely incredible. He had one step back with the game against the Philadelphia Flyers where he let in five goals. But other than that, he has been the Flames best player. And who the Flames have been turning to as the primary starter between the pipes. He also recorded his third shutout as a Flame, which is a new record for him for shutouts in a season. We literally owe everything to this man. He also was absolutely spectacular against the Leafs. This was probably his best game as a Flame this season, hands down.
He made 39 saves and this was his third shutout in just eight games. I swear, if he doesn’t get a star of the month, the league is rigged.
On the other end of this, we have Jhonas Enroth for the Leafs. Enroth hasn’t had as good of a season as Johnson, to say the least. So far, he’s 0-2-1, has a SV% of 0.866 and a GAA of 4.21. Well, I guess now he’s 0-3-1 (sorry Enroth). I will say though, after the first two goals, he looked a lot more solid and confident in the crease. He allowed just one goal on the next 25 shots.
Leafs were tired – But Flames know what that’s like
Another advantage that the Calgary Flames had was that this was the Leafs second game in as many nights. I mean, we all know that the Flames know what it’s like to play like a million games in two weeks. But the Leafs record in their second game in as many nights isn’t good this season. They were going into the game 0-2-1 when playing their second game in two nights and that stat just became worse.
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The Leafs did battle and they pushed hard, but they couldn’t beat the Chad. They out-shot the Flames 39-29 and out-hit them 18-11.
But looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs couldn’t extinguish the Flame tonight. God that was horrible, I promise to never use that again.