Gridin's two goals help Flames end eight-game losing streak to Leafs

Matvei Gridin scored twice to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. The win marks the fourth consecutive win for Calgary and ends an eight-game losing streak against Toronto that has spanned back to February 2022.

The Flames seized control midway through the first period. Gridin opened the scoring at 10:05 by picking the top corner of the net off the left wing. Mikael Backlund followed less than two minutes later with his own goal. Backlund returned to the lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury.

Gridin added his second goal 25 seconds into the second period on a power play. He again scored in the top corner, this time over the opposite shoulder of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil finished the scoring for Calgary with empty-net goals. Farabee also recorded an assist, extending his point streak to five games. Matt Coronato had two assists, also extending his point streak to five games.

Toronto's four-game winning streak ended with the defeat. Easton Cowan and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews assisted on Nylander's goal, reaching 800 career NHL points in 703 games. Matthews is the fastest player in franchise history to reach that milestone and the second-fastest U.S.-born player to do so.

Devin Cooley made 26 saves for Calgary, improving his record to 4-2-0. Bobrovsky stopped 29 shots for Toronto. Kirill Marchenko left the game early in the second period with a lower-body injury after crashing into the boards following a hit from Yegor Sharangovich.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday night. The Maple Leafs will visit the Seattle Kraken, while the Flames will travel to face the Edmonton Oilers.