[sureLoss]

Monahan gaining confidence:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...724/story.html

So when he glides onto the ice to take a faceoff and he sees the San Jose Sharks deploy Joe Thornton . . . well, let’s just say the kid knows what time it is.


“Obviously, they’re putting him out there for a reason — they want to capitalize on that (matchup),” Monahan, 19, was saying after Sunday afternoon’s practice at the Toyota Sports Center. “That’s motivation for me and my linemates (Sven Baertschi and Jiri Hudler). We want to step up.”


Less than five minutes into Saturday’s contest, with the draw deep in Sharks territory, Monahan got his first taste of Thornton.


Then, rather surprisingly, it was the Flames who had done the hemming in.


“I remember that shift,” said Monahan. “Obviously, you come to the bench and you talk about what you could do next time to put the puck in the back of the net. Me and my linemates know we can play against the best.”


And if the rookie pivot doesn’t appear to care about who he’s facing, then neither does his boss.


In fact, when the Sharks started pulling away, Bob Hartley leaned on Monahan.


“Because I felt he was probably our best centreman out there,” said the Flames coach. “Still a young man, still a kid. But he learns very quickly and he doesn’t get rattled.”