Recap: Calgary Flames (1) vs NJ Devils (2)

Calgary Flames 1 NJ Devils 2

The Flames had a chance to pounce on a floundering NJ Devils team and well, they didn’t.

First Period

“Ch Ch Ch Ch Ah Ah Ah Ah.....”

Pretty much sums up the 1st period between the Flames and Devils. Problem was the Flames were the campers and the Devils were wearing the hockey mask and carrying the ax. The Devils out shot the Flames 14-7, outscored the Flames 2-0 and got 2 PP chances and were able to capitalize on 1 of their 2 PP’s. The Flames started out strong as Garnet Hathaway HAMMERED Miles Wood with a borderline late hit which caused Hathaway and Kyle Quincey to exchange phone numbers and when the dust settled, Calgary managed to get a power play out of that mess. The Devils would kill off the penalty and the surging Flames PP would come up empty on their only try of the period. That hit seemed to get the Devils motivated and they pushed the pace of the play getting goals from Kyle Palmieri and Flames killer Taylor Hall and they walked into the intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Second Period

Well, what to say about that snoozer of a second period? The Devils came out flying early, like the Flames didn’t make any adjustments. Chad Johnson made 2-3 saves in one flurry while he was sprawled out on the ice, keeping the score 2-0 NJ. The Flames killed off a Devils penalty and the rest of the period looked like Olympic table tennis: back and forth and boring.

Finally Sean Monahan got the Flames on the board. Dougie Hamilton fired one on net and Monahan parked himself out front to collect the loose change and put home his first goal in 12 (!) games, getting the Flames within a goal. That’s how the period would end with NJ up 2-1 and Calgary out shooting the Devils 17-12 in the period.

Third Period

Imagine the second period, just without the Flames goal. Lots of back and forth, both goaltenders played well, but another period void of action. Calgary got some quality scoring chances towards the end of the third when they pulled Chad Johnson in favor of the extra skater, but did nothing with the man advantage. NJ ended up out shooting the Flames 36-34, but more importantly outscored the Flames 2-1.

What’s Next

The Devils aren’t good. You have to think the Flames were looking ahead to Saturday night’s Battle Of Alberta with the Oilers who are 3 points ahead of the Flames in the Pacific. Puck drop at the Dome is 8 PM MT Saturday night.

Flame of The Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Monahan. Had to pick someone. Monahan snapped a 12 game goal-less streak and got the Flames only goal of the contest.