Toffoli scores, Flames defeat Blue Jackets for seventh straight win

CALGARY --Tyler Toffoli scored in his debut with the Calgary Flames in their seventh straight win, 6-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.

Toffoli, who was
acquired from the Montreal Canadiens
on Monday, scored at 11:04 of the third period to give the Flames a 6-2 lead. He tucked in a backhand on one leg after a lob pass from Johnny Gaudreau sent him on a partial breakaway. It was his 10th goal of the season.
"Obviously coming to a really good team playing really good hockey right now, I was excited," Toffoli said. "Playing good hockey and playing with the lead and doing all the little things that makes the team successful, and it was just another one of those nights."
Elias Lindholm scored for the fifth consecutive game and had two assists, and Dan Vladar made 18 saves for the Flames (27-13-6), who have won nine of their past 10 games.
"A lot of positive vibes coming into the rink, but I think we're moving on game to game, we're trying to get better," Calgary forward Dillon Dube said. "I think there's some stuff we still need to clean up tonight."

Adam Boqvist and Zach Werenski scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 35 saves for the Blue Jackets (23-23-1), who had won three in a row.
"They're a powerhouse team and they're adding to their group," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "They're big, they're strong, they've got a good balance of veteran guys. It's a pretty deep team. We can't have anybody not on board in that game, not one, to stay with them for 60 (minutes). I think they've won six or seven in a row now, they're rolling pretty good. Your margin for error is very small."
Erik Gudbranson put the Flames up 1-0 at 2:10 of the first period.
Calgary took a 2-0 lead at 16:30 when Columbus defenseman Andrew Peeke shot Lindholm's centering pass into his own net. Lindholm was credited with his 19th goal of the season.
"Between periods I told him it was a [heck] of a shot," Larsen said. "What do you say? He's not trying to one-time it, he's going back. It's a reactionary thing, you're trying to clear it, he buries it. There's no point in getting mad over it. It's not a turnover. It's not one of those situations you're frustrated. It's unfortunate. If anything, it was more of a joke. It was what it was. Things like that happen."
Boqvist cut it to 2-1 at 17:50. Patrik Laine's shot off the rush was partially blocked, but the puck bounced to Boqvist and he shot it past Vladar's glove. Laine has scored 13 points (seven goals, six assists) during a seven-game point streak.

Matthew Tkachuk made it 3-1 at 15:44 of the second period. Lindholm intercepted a failed clearing attempt by Jack Roslovic before Tkachuk finished a give-and-go with Gaudreau.
Dube scored shorthanded to make it 4-1 at 19:13, his first goal in 14 games.
Calgary outshot Columbus 17-4 in the second period.
"It's good momentum for us for sure. It's tough for them," Dube said. "Any goal, even strength, shorthanded, in the last minute, it's hard going into the third and losing some momentum, but great for us."
Adam Ruzicka made it 5-1 at 6:39 of the third period when he shot under Merzlikins' left pad off the rush.
Werenski cut it to 5-2 at 8:08 on a rebound.
"We put in some good minutes and kind of shot ourselves in the foot with some of the turnovers, power play, they score a shorthanded goal," Werenski said. "It's frustrating, but we've played some good hockey as of late. We can learn from this and move by it. We just have to get back on track."
NOTES: Calgary is 23-0-1 this season when leading after the second period. ... Lindholm (five goals, five assists) and Gaudreau (three goals, six assists) each has a seven-game point streak. … The Flames have scored four or more goals in six straight games, one shy of their record set in 1992-93. … Gudbranson was plus-4 and had four shots on goal in 19:49 of ice time. … Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek was minus-4 and did not have a shot in 12:47.