'Pretty Cool For Her To See One Live': Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann Hits Career High In Goals In Front Of Family And Friends In Alberta

McMann has eight points — including six goals — in six career games against the Oilers and Flames.

Bobby McMann loves playing against teams within his home province of Alberta.

On Tuesday night, the 28-year-old scored the Toronto Maple Leafs' third goal in their 6-3 win over the Calgary Flames, marking back-to-back games where he's found the back of the net.

What's special about those goals in consecutive games is that they have come in cities a few hours drive from where he grew up in Wainwright, Alberta. On Saturday with a fair amount of family in the crowd in Edmonton, McMann scored his fifth goal in four games against the Oilers.

Although the list was shorter inside Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome, a large group of family and friends watched as McMann set a new career-high with 16 goals.

"I thought I was going to end up being like six [people] but I think I put 18 on the post-game list," McMann smiled on Tuesday night. "It's awesome, though. It's so nice to be able to share this side of the game and away from the game with family and friends like that."

The power forward now has six goals and two assists in six career games against the two teams from his home province. Saturday marked the first time he found the back of the net in Alberta, and his family, including his grandmother, was in attendance.

"I think she's watched every game since I've been in juniors, hasn't missed a single one," McMann said. "It's pretty cool for her to see one live and see me score. That was pretty special."

Growing up in Wainwright, McMann was much closer to Edmonton (a two-hour drive) than to Calgary (a four-hour drive). He grew up watching the Oilers, however, did he have that hate for the Flames like his Edmonton counterparts?

"I was more of just a hockey fan but a lot of my buddies hate the Flames and then there's a few that really like the Flames," he said. "I might message them tonight and say we got you guys."

The Maple Leafs are getting great value from McMann, who has a cap hit of $1.35 million and is locked up for another season after this one. His 16 goals this season put him alongside players in the NHL who make four to five times what McMann is making.

The caveat is that he has only eight assists, compared to other players with 15 to 20 more. However, the Maple Leafs don't see him as someone who can't reach those totals one day.

"Yeah, he has room still [to grow]," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday.

"He's playing real good hockey. I mean, his skating is elite, drives pucks deep, drives them wide, hard on pucks, and he's finishing. He's using his shot and finishing. He's playing real good hockey for us."