The New Jersey Devils continue their winning streak, securing victories even when not at their best.
Nico Hischier scored off a rush with 8:10 remaining, leading the Devils to a 3-2 win over the struggling Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, marking New Jersey’s seventh consecutive win.
“I mean it wasn’t pretty for sure. It wasn’t our best game,” Hischier said. “I think we didn’t have our legs in the first period, which was embarrassing. But we found a way and came back, and in the end, if you’re going to win those games, it’s huge.”
Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves also scored as the Devils (10-3) matched their longest winning streak since February 2011. Vitek Vanecek made 33 saves, helping New Jersey overcome a lackluster performance after returning from a three-game trip to western Canada.
“I thought the energy in our building was great. Even though we came out on our heels, and I just got to say, they parked us on our heels,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “But again, it is a great sign that we can overcome that. I thought their goalie made some really big saves, too, or we could have probably scored three or four.”
Nazem Kadri and Tyler Toffoli scored power-play goals for the Flames, who have lost six straight (0-4-2). Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves.
Kadri said the Flames have a right to feel frustrated after losing two straight in overtime and being beaten in a game they played well.
“It’s OK to let it out sometimes,” Kadri said of the frustration. “But at the end of the day, frustration isn’t going to get you anywhere. It’s just going to dig you a deeper hole. So at the end of the day, I believe in the guys here. We’re just going to have to dig in.”
Hischier’s sixth goal came against the flow of play. The Flames kept the puck in the Devils’ end for about two-plus minutes. Tomas Tatar got the puck out of the zone to Hamilton, who found Hischier coming down the middle. His shot beat Markstrom between the pads.
“I have to be honest. I first couldn’t believe it because I had this pump-fake, five-hole move in my head, but I thought I was way too far out, but somehow I didn’t see it going in, and it still got in, so it was pretty cool,” Hischier said. “Got me fired up.”
Toffoli’s had tied the game at 2-all at 5:13 of the third period with a power-play shot from the left circle that beat Vanecek to the top corner of the net. It came 20 seconds after Miles Wood was called for holding.
Despite being outshot 23-15 and having two goals nullified after Calgary challenges, the Devils led 2-1 after two periods on goals by Graves and Hamilton, the latter with a two-man advantage.
Kadri had given Calgary a 1-0 lead at 11:58 of the first period, a session in which the Flames held a 14-5 shot advantage. The tally was the seventh of the season for Kadri, and it came on a wicked shot from the right circle during a power play.
The Devils had a goal by defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler overturned in the first period, and another by Yegor Sharangovich was taken off the board early in the second. The Devils entered the offensive zone too early on Siegenthaler’s goal, and Sharangovich kicked the puck into the net on his.
Game Notes
- Flames coach Darryl Sutter said center Jonathan Huberdeau was scratched because he could not get his foot in his skate. The team had said he had an upper-body injury.
- The Flames used forward Adam Ruzicka and defenseman Dennis Gilbert in the lineup. Gilbert knocked down Devil F Nathan Bastian in a one-sided fight.
- The Devils were outshot for only the second time this season.
- Vanecek has won six in a row.
- Devils G Mackenzie Blackwood will be sidelined for 3-to-6 weeks with a knee injury. Akira Schmid is now the backup.
UP NEXT
- Flames: At Boston on Thursday night to wrap up a three-game road trip.
- Devils: Host Ottawa on Thursday night in the second of a three-game homestand.
