Jarnkrok scores 3rd period shutout as Maple Leafs hold off Flames

Calle Jarnkrok scored the game-winner for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 2-1 win over the host Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

Jarnkrok struck early in the third period and Mitch Marner also scored for Toronto (38-16-8).

Blake Coleman scored for Calgary (27-22-13), which dropped to 3-4-3 in its last 10 games.

With 20 games to go, and the Nashville Predators hot on their heels by a point, the Flames trailed the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the Western Conference’s second wild card spot by five points.

Jacob Markstrom was under the microscope in Calgary, but the Swede gave the Flames the goal they needed to win the game with 32 saves.

William Nylander’s denial on a layup with less than a minute left in the second period kept the game deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the third period.

Jarnkrok scored the go-ahead goal at 2:20 of the final frame.

WATCHES | Jarnkrok lifts Maple Leafs over Flames in Calgary:

Markstrom made the initial save on an all-alone Morgan Rielly, but Rielly knocked the puck back into the net for Jarnkrok to put under the glove of the outstretched goaltender.

Marner pulled the Leafs even at 1-1 at 7:36 of the second period.

Calgary’s Nazem Kadri scored two minutes later while Marner served up a high-sticking minor.

The power-play goal was successfully challenged for offside, however, by Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe.

After collecting the puck at the top of the zone, Marner zigzagged through the slot and beat Markstrom’s glove for his 11th point in his last five games.

Auston Matthews’ assist on Marner’s goal was his fourth point in three games.

Toronto outscored the Flames 10-7 in the opening period on the strength of a pair of power-play opportunities, but the team that leads the NHL in first-period goals (67) fell behind 1-0.

With the Flames serving a minor, Coleman scored off a breakaway at 2:32 of the first period for his second goal in as many games.

Coleman got a jumper to Erik Gustafsson, who missed the puck at the blue line, to beat Woll low stick side.

Toronto has added half a dozen new players to its lineup via trades since February 17th.

The Flames close out a three-game homestand Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

Toronto continues west to face the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday.