Flames Offence Comes Alive, Defeat NJ 5-2

Calgary Flames 5 – NJ Devils 2

Complete Stats

Scoring

Calgary Flames

1st: None

2nd: 3:02- Ryan (3) (Stone/Brodie), 9:57- Monahan (4) (Hanifin/Gaudreau), PPG 14:53- Backlund (3) (Hanifin/Andersson), PPG 19:46- Hanifin (3) (Benentt/Backlund)

3rd: 10:01- Gaudreau (5) (Monahan/Lindholm)

NJ Devils

1st: 15:44- Hughes (4) (Hall/Butcher)

2nd: 5:21- Gusev (4) (Hughes)

3rd: None

Recap

Bill Peters challenged his team to play a full 60 minutes after their 4-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night. Thursday night he got as close to 60 minutes as he’s gotten all season as the Flames defeated the NJ Devils 5-2 at the Saddledome.

The Flames found themselves trailing twice in this game, but unlike the usual multi goal deficit, it was only one goal each time they found themselves in a hole. NJ jumped out 1-0 lead with just under four minutes left in the first period thanks to Jack Hughes’ fourth goal of the season and it looked like NJ had some momentum. The Flames would put nine shots on net in the first period, but found themselves down 1-0 heading into the locker room after 20.

Calgary would draw even with the Devils thanks to Derek Ryan’s third goal of the season. Ryan would split the Devils defence with some slick stick work, cut cross crease and bury a backhand shot past Mackenzie Blackwood to tie the game 1-1. The Devils wouldn’t waste much time getting the lead back as they would score their second goal of the game 2:20 after Ryan tied. Nikita Gusev would collect his fourth of the season thanks to Jack Hughes and once again the Flames had to play from behind.

Where this has hurt the Flames in the past, it didn’t tonight. Calgary owned the Devils in the final two periods, scoring four unanswered goals, out-shooting NJ 29 to 14, including a herculean 17-4 advantage in the second period. Calgary got two PPG on the night, which gives them four PPG in their last two games and is a huge step in the right direction.

Calgary would round out the scoring with goals from Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin and Johnny Gaudreau. The Flames desperately needed their big guns to get going and tonight they got exactly that. Gaudreau, Monahan and Backlund combined for six points total and Noah Hanifin had the game of his life. The Flames defenceman had a goal and two assists and was a rock on the blue line tonight.

Final Thoughts

A full effort was requested of this team and they responded. Calgary out shot the Devils 38-23 on the night. The Penalty Kill was a perfect 3-3. The PP scored twice in six tries. All in all the Flames played probably their best game of the season and got contributions from all of their lines.

David Rittich didn’t have a huge workload, but he was solid as usual. Rittich stopped 21 of the 23 shots that came his way and started his league leading 15th game of the season.

Flame Of The Game

Noah Hanifin (D): Hanifin was solid all night and was an easy choice for Flame Of The Game. He had three points on the night, was a +1 and his four SOG was tied for the lead on the team.

What’s Next?

11/9: Calgary Flames vs St. Louis Blues, 8 PM MT

by Mark Parkinson