Continuing their travels through Alberta, the Leafs stopped at the Saddledome to face off against the Calgary Flames.

It was announced not long before puck drop that Leafs star forward Mitch Marner would be out of action for this game, due to a lower-body injury. Marner is slated to be an important player in Canada’s 4Nations roster, and he is currently tied for fourth in points in the entire league.

“I thought we did a great job,” Knies said. “Obviously he’s a tremendous player and it’s going to hurt our team he can’t play, but I think guys stepped up and we did a really good job.”

The first two goals of the game, were disallowed due to goaltending interference from Calgary, and a high stick when John Tavares tried to bat the puck in from a high shot. Calgary was finally able to break the ice in the first after Matt Coronado was able to score on a 5-on-3 powerplay.

Heading into the second period, the Leafs pressured the Flames heavily. Nylander tied the game with his first of the night on a beautiful one timer on the powerplay, sent by a cross ice pass from Matthew Knies.

“I think we’re just moving the puck, keeping it simple and keeping the puck moving quickly is huge and getting pucks to the net and retrieving and scoring,” Nylander said.

No more than a minute later, John Tavares showed off his beautiful backhand and sniped one above Wolf’s shoulder to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead.

Calgary was able to equalize the game with another power play goal, but not long after did Bobby McMann rip one past Wolf to regain the Toronto lead. Before the period could end, William Nylander doubled the Leafs lead with another goal, this time off a snapshot on an odd man rush.

In the third period, Matthew Knies wanted to get in on the scoring, so he poked a deflected Matthews shot past the goal line for his 20th goal of the season, and to pad the Toronto lead 5-2.

Joel Farabee scored his first as a flame after getting traded from Philadelphia last week, and William Nylander completed his second NHL hat trick by scoring into an empty net.

“It was nice,” said Nylander, whose only other NHL hat trick came eight years ago on Feb. 4, 2017. “I mean, I didn’t really expect that to happen maybe tonight. I had a lot of other games where I’ve had two goals and not been able to score. It was nice it finally went in.”

Nylander is currently on a nine game point streak against the Flames, and this hat trick was the first time he’s scored at the Saddledome. Speaking of Nylander, he and Matthews have factored in on the same power-play goal 91 times, one shy of the franchise record of 92 set by Borje Salming and Darryl Sittler.

The Maple Leafs continue their west coast road trip Thursday against Seattle, then wrap up against Vancouver on Saturday, before having a break for the 4Nations tournament.