Flames' Monahan awakening from early-season slumber

It appears Sean Monahan is ready to produce again.

After accumulating an underwhelming eight points in his first 20 games of the season, Monahan has been red-hot of late, notching 11 points (five goals, six assists) over a nine-game point streak. He scored Calgary's lone marker in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Without coincidence, his linemate Johnny Gaudreau is on a seven-game streak of his own, but Monahan's increased production has to be a welcomed sight for the Flames, who - before dropping their last two contests - had won six in a row.

Monahan, 22, established a career high in points last season (63), and as a result, the Flames awarded their franchise pivot a seven-year, $44.6-million extension in the summer.

A back injury suffered in September kept him off Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey, and could have contributed to his slow start, but as of now, it looks like Monahan has found his stride again.

Copyright (C) 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.