Toffoli scores in Calgary debut, Flames beat Columbus 6-2

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Tyler Toffoli scored in his debut with Calgary, and the Flames won their season-high seventh straight game, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Erik Gudbranson, Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk, Dillon Dube, and Adam Ruzicka also scored for Calgary (27-13-6), which moved past Vegas into first place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Golden Knights. The Flames also hold two games in hand.

Rookie goaltender Dan Vladar made his first start in 39 days and his first home appearance of the season for the Flames and finished with 18 stops, improving to 7-3-1.

Playing the fourth game of a seven-game homestand, the Flames have also won seven games in a row at the Saddledome, outscoring the opposition 35-8 during that span.

Adam Boqvist and Zach Werenski scored for Columbus, which entered with a three-game winning streak and had won five straight on the road.

Elvis Merzlikins made his fifth straight start in goal for the Blue Jackets and faced 41 shots.

Toffoli’s goal came at 11:04 of the third period. Johnny Gaudreau flipped the puck high in the air with Toffoli chasing it down and neatly putting away his 10th goal as he cut across the net and beat Merzlikins.

Toffoli was acquired Monday in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens. He played on a line with Sean Monahan and Dillon Dube.

The big moment in the game came late in the second with Calgary up 2-1.

First, Jack Roslovic’s turnover resulted in a two-on-one for Gaudreau and Tkachuk. The Flames top scorers did not squander the chance, executing a perfect passing sequence culminating in Tkachuk’s 22nd goal.

Then in the final minute, another turnover allowed Dube and Andrew Mangiapane to race in on a two-on-one, with Dube firing a shot past Merlizkins to snap a 13-game pointless streak.

Calgary opened the scoring two minutes into the game on the third goal of the season and second in as many games for Gudbranson. After Milan Lucic won a battle for the puck, sending a pass back to the point, with Gudbranson’s low wrist shot squeaking through Merzlikins.

Making it 2-0 at 16:30, Lindholm centered the puck from the corner and Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke, in attempting to clear the puck, instead swept it straight into his own net.

The Blue Jackets answered, cutting the deficit to 2-1 when Patrik Laine’s shot was deflected by defenseman Noah Hanifin, but the puck bounced directly to Boquist, who snapped it past Vladar.

NOTES: The last time Calgary scored four or more goals while piling up six wins in a row was March 1988. … Brett Ritchie was the Flames change at forward, opening up a spot for Toffoli. Ritchie has no points in 24 games. … Flames improve to 11-1-2 against the Metropolitan Division. … Toffoli is the first player to wear No. 73 for the Flames. … Calgary has outscored its opponent 54-31 in the first period.

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: At Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

Flames: Hosts Anaheim on Wednesday.

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