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Monahan: Sunday’s game against Preds is a ‘must-win’

Columbus Blue Jackets v Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan

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The Calgary Flames have been one of this season’s pleasant surprises, but after dropping five of their last seven contests, they find themselves a point shy of a playoff spot with seven contests remaining in the season. That’s not a horrible position, but given their recent struggles and the fact that they’re directly battling with the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings for that postseason berth, it’s easy to argue that the Flames have a razor-thin margin for error.

That seems to be how 20-year-old Sean Monahan feels going into Sunday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

“It’s a must-win,” Monahan said, per the Calgary Sun.

That’s not good news given that the Nashville Predators are one of the best teams in the league this season and have won their last four games. Monahan isn’t blind to how big of a task taking two points from Nashville will be, but he’s looking forward to the contest all the same.

“We have to be excited about it,” Monahan said. “Obviously, it’s going to be a challenge. They’re a good team. They have good goaltending. But I think we have to come back at them with the same and be excited about our game and be confident in each other.

“You don’t need to feel the pressure with that. I think you have to rise to the occasion and you have to get the job done. I think it’s an exciting time right now. A lot of guys aren’t in this position a lot of times throughout their careers, so you have to take advantage of it and have fun.”

Los Angeles is idle Sunday, but it will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

Related:

Western Conference playoff picture: Wild keep rolling, Ducks and Preds clinch

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