"Right now it's an important part of the season and time for me to step up," Monahan said midweek. "Obviously these next 10, 15 games could determine a lot. We have to be pushing and I want to be a guy to take some charge here."
The run has Monahan back on pace for 24 goals over an 82-game schedule, down slightly from his 27-goal campaign a year ago.
And the good news is that the best is yet to come from the 22-year-old centre.
Thirteen of Monahan's 27 goals last season came when the calendar turned to February.
He had 15 from February onward over the final two and a half months of 2014-15.
Needless to say, the Brampton, ON native is a second-half sniper.
And now a look at the week that was for the Calgary Flames.
OVER THE BOARDS
Congrats to veteran Matt Stajan on hitting 900 games in a 2-1 shootout loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 14. The shaved-head centre told CalgaryFlames.com's George Johnson he sported a mohawk as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in his first ever NHL skate. "Not my proudest moment," Stajan said. He's had many since. The 33-year-old has seen a bit of a resurgence this year. After scoring six times and totaling 17 points in 80 games last season, is already at four goals and 16 points through the first 49 games this year. … Dennis Wideman, another veteran, hit game No. 800 against the Oilers on Saturday. He's three goals away from 100. … Chad Johnson has 130 NHL games to his name, and the AJHL's Brooks Bandits honoured the two-season tender for his efforts from 2003-05. It wasn't always rosy. "We had some bad, bad road trips," Johnson said. "I remember one time we had come back from Fort Mac and got in at 3 AM. The coach and trainer were so mad that we ended up running around the town for an hour as a team." … How much are the Flames enjoying video review? It did help overturn Michael Frolik's goal at 16:34 of the third period against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, but burned both Freddie Hamilton and Lance Bouma against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. "I still count those, I told Boumy after," captain Mark Giordano said. "I told them after the game I still count them. I'll put them on my stat sheet, I guess, at home." … What a buzz when Flames coach Glen Gulutzan made sophomore Sam Bennett a healthy scratch against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Bennett, the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, was back in the lineup Saturday after the one-game pause. "We're making a huge deal of this, but he's 20," Giordano said. "He's going to go through more tough situations in his career, for sure, when things aren't going well. It happens." … Not a bad showing for Flames pick Matthew Phillips in Calgary on Friday. The pint-sized prospect notched a hat-trick and added an assist as the Victoria Royals toppled the Calgary Hitmen. It was Phillips' second straight hatty. The sixth round pick (No. 166) in 2016 is second in the Western Hockey League with 35 goals. … Stick tap to hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser on her outstanding career with the Canadian Women's National Team. Wickenheiser announced her retirement last week.
OVERTIME
Who couldn't help but be a little star struck as legendary forward Jaromir Jagr, mullet and all, rolled through Calgary early in the week. The near-45-year-old, who in December moved into sole possession of second in the NHL's all-time scoring list, showed little signs of slowing down with no intention of retiring soon. Sort of. He's said in the past that he's going to be pushing to play well into his 50's. "To be honest, I'm kind of sick of the question when they ask me about retiring," Jagr said. "I'm throwing numbers out there just for fun."
