Flames get the message

CALGARY -- Markus Granlund, a healthy scratch in three previous games, couldn't say for certain whether or not he drew into the lineup when the Calgary Flames scratched three regular forwards.
But Granlund had a goal and an assist, and Jonas Hiller made 33 saves to help the Calgary Flames to a 4-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.

"Who knows?" Granlund said. "I didn't want to think about it. It's just a hockey game. You have to play with the guys who are playing. Every time when you get a chance, you have to show that you've earned it."
Granlund was inserted into the lineup when the Flames scratched their top two scorers, forwards Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, and forward Lance Bouma. Gaudreau leads the Flames in goals (21), assists (28) and points (49); Monahan is second with 16 goals and 35 points.

"It was very simple," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. "We established team rules at the start of the season. We're a very proud hockey club. We have built what we believe to be a very strong culture, and that goes for everyone.
"I know people say, 'It's the top two scorers.' It's not the players. It's not about the people involved. It's about the Calgary Flames. It was tough. It was tough because you can't get three better young men. They're proud of representing this community. They're easy to coach and everything, but when you make a mistake, we have to be accountable and we have to be fair to everyone."
Mikael Backlund, Micheal Ferland and Dougie Hamilton scored for the Flames (24-25-3), who won back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 2-5. Calgary has won three of their past four games.
"I thought we played really well," Hamilton said. "When you're missing three of your better players, it's tougher for your team but everyone stepped up and I thought we played pretty good."
Peter Holland, Josh Leivo, and Jake Gardiner scored for the Maple Leafs (19-24-9), who have lost six of the past eight games.

"I was pretty happy with our overall effort with a depleted lineup," Holland said. "I thought we played pretty hard. I thought we dominated most of the game and they found a way to win."
Earlier Tuesday, Toronto traded captain Dion Phaneuf, forwards Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey and Ryan Rupert, and defenseman Cody Donaghey for defenseman Jared Cowen and forwards Milan Michalek, Colin Greening and Tobias Lindberg, along with Ottawa's second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
None of the players acquired by the Maple Leafs were in the lineup against the Flames. Toronto was also missing James van Riemsdyk (foot), Stephane Robidas (lower body), Tyler Bozak (upper body), Joffrey Lupul (middle body), and Shawn Matthias (whiplash) due to injury.
"The way I found out was on my phone, I think like most people," Gardiner said. "It was pretty emotional for a lot of the guys -- one of our really good friends and obviously our leader on our team (got traded). It started that way. Obviously it was tough all day long and we just tried to refocus for the game. I thought we competed well, but (we) just didn't start the way we wanted to."

Granlund put Calgary up 1-0 with a shorthanded goal at 10:40 of the first period. He got behind Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly and settled down a flip pass from Michael Frolik before beating Toronto goaltender James Reimer five-hole to give the Flames the lead.
It was Granlund's first goal in 21 games and Calgary's second shorthanded goal of the season.
"Great pass by Frolik," Granlund said. "I just tried to shoot five-hole and it went in. It felt good. I think two weeks ago I had some good chances to score but I couldn't score. Now it feels good."
The Maple Leafs responded 44 seconds later on the same power play, when Holland tipped a point shot from Frank Corrado past Hiller.

Backlund restored Calgary's lead with 1:57 remaining in the first. He won the ensuing faceoff after Toronto was called for too many men on the ice and tipped Hamilton's wrist shot from the point behind Reimer to make it 2-1.
Ferland doubled Calgary's lead with an even-strength goal early in the second period. Joe Colborne broke wide before centering a pass that Ferland tapped by Reimer's pad and inside the far post to put Calgary up 3-1 at 4:06.
Hamilton made it 4-1 at 14:08. Granlund won a faceoff in Toronto's end and Hamilton beat Reimer over the glove with a point shot through a crowd.
"I just tried to walk and get a good shot," Hamilton said. "I had a little bit of time and it was just a good shot in a good spot."

Leivo cut the deficit in half when he beat Hiller with a shot over the blocker with 2:43 remaining in the second for his first goal of the season.
Gardiner skated the length of the ice before beating Hiller with a wrist shot over the blocker from the top of the faceoff circle 9:44 into the third, his first goal in 16 games, to cut the score to 4-3.
But Hiller stopped the final seven shots, including a goal line tuck against PA Parenteau with 1:09 remaining, to preserve the win.
"In the third period, the Leafs applied unbelievable pressure on us," Hartley said. "We got a few standing eight-counts, that's the best way I can put it. That second goal really put us on our heels and it almost cost us."