Maple Leafs stumble vs. Flames as Matthews hits 800 points — Atlantic Division roundup

No Atlantic Division teams were in action last night, but the aftershocks of a busy Monday were still being felt in Toronto, Detroit, and Montreal.

Toronto: milestone for Matthews, tough loss and more injuries

The big story in Toronto remains a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames. Sportsnet reports that Matvei Gridin led the way for Calgary with two goals and an assist, while Joel Farabee added a goal and an assist. In the loss, Auston Matthews became the fastest player in Maple Leafs history to reach 800 points, according to Sportsnet.

The night was costly beyond the scoreboard. Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet both note that Leafs forward Kirill Marchenko exited with a lower-body injury after a collision with Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich. Sportsnet also highlights a heavyweight scrap between Zack MacEwen and Jake Middleton, with both players trading big punches.

Post-game, Sportsnet says Matthews was unhappy with a delay-of-game penalty, while Easton Cowan tried to shoulder blame for the defeat. Daily Faceoff reports that Toronto provided an encouraging update on injured regulars Christopher Tanev, John Tavares, Max Domi and Dakota Joshua, who are all moving closer to returning. On Sportsnet’s airwaves, analysts are debating whether the Leafs’ goalie situation is a true crease battle or more of a planned rotation, using the way Anthony Stolarz and Sergei Bobrovsky have been deployed elsewhere as a comparison.

Red Wings rally past Oilers, rookie goalie stands tall

In Detroit, the focus is a 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers. Sportsnet’s highlight package shows Lucas Raymond picking up two assists and then burying the shootout winner, while Victor Arvidsson chipped in a goal and an assist. Sportsnet describes the game as a rally capped in the shootout, with the Red Wings’ rookie goaltender outduelling Edmonton’s young skaters.

Colton Dach had briefly given the Oilers a late third-period lead on a goal assisted by Ryan Shea and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, according to Sportsnet, before Detroit clawed back to steal the extra point. The same outlet reports that Zach Hyman left the game with a head injury, a blow for an Oilers team outside the Atlantic picture but central to this matchup.

Fowler surging in Montreal, positive sign in Ottawa

The Canadiens sit fifth in the Atlantic with 14 points in 11 games (6-3-2), and the conversation in Montreal is dominated by Jacob Fowler. Eyes on the Prize, the Montreal Gazette, the Canadiens’ official site and TVA Sports all focus on his emergence as a potential full-time starter, noting he has been named the NHL’s third star of the week and, in some cases, raising the possibility he could play his way into the Calder Trophy race if his level holds. La Presse also asks whether the Habs have truly turned a corner on the strength of five wins in seven, a standout goalie and a penalty kill that has tightened up.

In Ottawa, Sportsnet reports a positive development as defenceman Thomas Chabot shed his non-contact jersey at practice, a sign he is trending in the right direction for a Senators team sitting second in the division with 16 points through 12 games.