Flames’ kids fuel streak, Oilers stumble in SO — Pacific Division roundup

There were no Pacific Division teams in action last night, but Monday’s games and storylines in Calgary, Edmonton and Los Angeles are still driving the conversation.

Flames’ youth movement drives win streak and arena chatter

According to Sportsnet, Calgary’s youngsters set the tone in a 5–2 win over the Maple Leafs, the Flames’ fourth straight victory. Matvei Gridin stood out with two goals and an assist, while Joel Farabee added a goal and an assist in the win that has Calgary sitting on 10 points through 11 games.

Sportsnet also highlights Gridin reflecting on his three-point night and his celebration after his second goal. On the veteran side, captain Mikael Backlund scored in his return to the lineup to tie Johnny Gaudreau on the Flames’ all-time points list, per Sportsnet.

Off the ice, general manager Craig Conroy told Sportsnet he’s “sad” to see the Saddledome go but very excited about new Scotia Place, and he described goalie Devin Cooley as “the most popular person in Canada” right now. Forward Matt Coronato, in a separate Sportsnet segment, walked through his thought process before his first NHL fight against Jonathan Marchessault. The physical tone in Toronto also included a heavyweight tilt between Zack MacEwen and Calgary’s Jake Middleton, while Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet note that Leafs winger Kirill Marchenko left with a lower-body injury after a collision with Yegor Sharangovich.

Oilers fall in shootout, Hyman leaves with head injury

Still first in the Pacific with 18 points in 12 games, the Oilers hit a snag in Detroit. Sportsnet recaps a 4–3 shootout loss to the Red Wings, saying Edmonton’s young players looked good but Detroit’s rookie goalie was better. Lucas Raymond had two assists and scored the shootout winner, and Victor Arvidsson recorded a goal and an assist in the Red Wings’ win, per Sportsnet.

Edmonton did pull out a point thanks in part to a late third-period goal from Colton Dach at 16:32, assisted by Ryan Shea and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, according to Sportsnet. The concern for the Oilers is Zach Hyman, who left the game with a head injury, Sportsnet reports — a situation that could impact the league’s top team in the division.

Kings rolling back East, Sharks seek consistency at home

The Kings, seventh in the Pacific but trending up, continued a strong Eastern Conference road swing with a 6–3 win over the Rangers on Monday. As noted by La Presse and Sportsnet, Drew Doughty posted a goal and two assists, while Artemi Panarin answered with a power-play goal and an assist. Joel Edmundson also chipped in two points in an offence-heavy night.

In San Jose, The Hockey Writers says the Sharks enter the week with encouraging signs of progress but the familiar challenge of turning offensive production into consistent results. Under head coach Ryan Warsofsky, they’re heading into a four-game homestand and will do so without Alexander Wennberg and Nikita Chernyshov, according to the same outlet.