Red-hot Matthews, Lindholm lines on collision course in Calgary

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs. The Leafs and Flames held optional skates at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Thursday ahead of tonight’s game. 

The longest winning streaks in the National Hockey League are on the line Thursday night. The Leafs have won six straight. For the Flames, it's four in a row. 

"It's going to be a battle for the puck," said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. "Two lines that are really feeling it offensively and really driving things for their team."

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting can agitate, neutralize and score on any line they face. Ditto for Elias Lindholm, Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. 

But there is one key distinguishing factor. 

"It's a totally different line than the Lindholm line," Flames coach Darryl Sutter noted. "I mean, Auston Matthews is arguably the purest shooter and goal scorer in the league. Like, that's a big difference. He's a power guy when you look at it."

Still, the approach doesn't change for Calgary. 

"All over the ice, we're all thinking defence first and try to do that right and then the O-zone stuff will come," Lindholm stressed. 

The pair of top lines do have a lot in common even if the Flames don't have a power forward in the Matthews mould. Bunting and Tkachuk are expert agitators. Lindholm and Marner are two-way terrors. 

"Marner's the whole package," Sutter said. "He's sort of like our Lindy in that he doesn't get enough credit for the whole game that he plays. You know, the way he manages the puck and makes plays and things like that."

Toronto's top players dominated the North Division last season and are building off that campaign. Calgary's stars have only caught