By Neil Becker

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner just keeps on producing.

Once again showing that ability to be an elite game breaker, Marner extended his goal scoring streak to eight games as he scored late in the third before adding the overtime winner in a Monday night 4-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Marner, who now has 16 goals on the season, had a three -point performance while finishing with a +3 plus/minus stat.

While it might only be February, there was no underestimating the importance of this game which saw the Leafs put their five- game winning streak on the line against a talented Stanley Cup contending Hurricanes team who in the standings sat three points ahead of the Buds.

An intriguing storyline saw both goalies going up against their former teams as Carolina netminder Frederik Anderson was facing his old team the Leafs. On the flipside Leafs goalie Petr Mrazek was going up against his former team the Canes.

Both goalies turned in solid 28 save performances.

Also making his presence known was Leafs forward Auston Matthews who scored two second period goals including one of the power play. Matthews now sits with 31 goals which is only two behind league leader Chris Kreider.

The Leafs, who dropped a 4-1 decision back in October against Carolina, played in front of about 500 fans at Scotiabank Arena as they surrendered the opening goal 13:08 into regulation to Canes forward Nino Niederreiter. That deficit wouldn’t last for long as the Leafs struck for consecutive second period goals from Matthews with the first being on a power play and the second coming with only 23 seconds left in the period.

Carolina, who some experts have picked to win the Stanley Cup, quickly gained the momentum with two third period goals starting with defenceman Tony De Angelo at the eight second mark followed by forward Derek Stefan who a little over nine minutes in  scored that go-ahead goal. That momentum wouldn’t work as Marner scored with less than six minutes left in regulation to make it a brand -new game.

Not long after, Marner once more proved clutch as he scored what was his 10th goal of his eight -game scoring streak with this one coming in overtime and clinching another Leafs win.

Toronto, who are 12-2-1 in their past 15 games suffered a big scare in the third when Matthews with 42 seconds remaining was shaken up by a high hit to the head area.

No word on his condition following the game.

The Leafs next play on Thursday, February 10^th against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome with opening faceoff scheduled for 9 p.m.

  SCORING SUMMARY                 

 1^ST Period                                                                       CAR-  TOR

 13:08 Nino Niederreiter (14)                                               1  –   0

Ian Cole (10), Martin Necas (15)

2^nd Period                                                                        CAR-  TOR

16:16 PPG Austin Matthews (30)                                           1  –   1

William Nylander (24), John Tavares 24)

19:37 Austin Matthews (31)                                                  1 –  2                                             

Morgan Rielly (34), Mitchell Marner (24)

 `

3^rd Period                                                                        CAR –  TOR

0:08 Tony DeAngelo (8)                                                      2   –   2

Jesper Fast (7), Jaccob Slavin (21)

9:23 Derek Stepan (7)                                                         3  –  2

Tony DeAngelo (27), Steven Lorenz (4)

14:12 Mitch Marner (15)                                                       3 –  3

Timothy Lilegren (6)

OT

2:51  Mitch Marner 16)                                                         3 – 4

Morgan Rielly (35), John Tavares (25)

By Neil Becker

 The major first-half story which played out west to rave reviews involves the strong exciting play of Calgary Flames shifty forward Johnny Gaudreau.  

Last season, this 5- foot 9, 165- pound dynamic playmaker played 56 games and scored 19 goals along with a career-low of 49 points which didn’t go unnoticed around the league. Affectionately known as ‘Johnny Hockey,’ Gaudreau’s play late last year heated up once Matthew Tkachuk became his linemate.  Meanwhile also excelling on that first line is the reliable Elias Lindholm who finished the first half with a solid 37 points.

Gaudreau, who is now in the final year of a six-year $40.5 million dollar contract has earned the right to play in a few days at what will be his sixth career NHL all-star game. As the season hits that magical halfway mark, Gaudreau has scored 18 goals and sits number one on Flames team with 54 points in 42 games.

Referred to as one of the most electrifying players in sports, Gaudreau early last month received some strong praise from his coach Darryl Sutter who referred to him as the most dangerous 200- foot player.

In Calgary’s first two games back from their COVID-19 pause, Gaudreau accumulated six points and now only trails Hockey Hall of Famers Jarome Iginla, Al MacInnis, along with Joe Nieuwendyk, Theo Fleury, Gary Suter, and Kent Nilsson for seventh on the Flames all-time franchise point list.

  Throughout the first half, Gaudreau has thrived in clutch situations and has been the model of consistency. Whether it be scoring an early overtime goal in a 1-0 late January win against the Vancouver Canucks or scoring along with Tkachuk shootout goals in pacing the Flames to an early December 4-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks, ‘Johnny Hockey’ has definitely once more been on top of his game. Leading up to the All-Star Game, Gaudreau has been on fire in tallying three goals along with 16 points in his last nine games. Other examples to illustrate his all-around game include149 shots on net and posting a sold +30. He also finished strong by recording seven shots on goal and drawing a key assist during a 4-2 February 2^nd road win against the Arizona Coyotes.

Meanwhile in Calgary also playing lights out have been 24- year-old Matthew Tkachuk, who has registered 20 goals along with 45 points and a +24 along with of course Lindholm who along with 37 points, is also a +29.

 The consistency and growth as a first-line have Flames fans buzzing in anticipation. Flames management must make that statement this summer by signing Gaudreau who becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.