Devils’ Hischier and Bratt Propel Team to 4-2 Victory Over Flames

The New Jersey Devils kept things rolling with a third straight victory Saturday evening at Scotiabank Saddledome with a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier (2), and Alexander Holtz scored for New Jersey. Meanwhile, ex-Devil Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri found the back of the net for Calgary. Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves on 25 shots for the Devils.

It was again a sluggish start for New Jersey as they spent most of the first 20 minutes chasing the puck.

"We weren't skating. We weren't battling. We weren't ready enough," Nico Hischier said to MSG Networks host Erika Wachter.

Calgary completely outworked New Jersey in the first period. Vanecek kept his team in the game early, making 12 saves on 13 shots. With 18 seconds left, he allowed the game's opening goal when Sharangovich scored shorthanded giving the Flames a 1-0 lead.

The Devils rallied in the middle frame, scoring two unanswered goals courtesy of the Hischier line.

"They've been a good line for us," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "They were good early in the year, and then we lost (Hischier) for a period of time. They like playing with each other and read off each other well."

"They have everything: speed, a couple of guys who can get to the net, and they can play against any line," he continued.

After 40 minutes, the Devils held a 2-1 lead. Entering Saturday night's game, the Devils were 9-1-1 when leading after two periods in a game this season.

In the third period, Holtz scored his eighth goal of the season with 11 minutes left. With over five minutes remaining, Kadri scored, pulling his team within one. Hischier's second of the game provided his team the necessary insurance needed as he blasted the puck 200 feet in Calgary's empty net. The young captain and Bratt finished the game with two points.

Per the media notes, "New Jersey earned victories at Calgary and in consecutive seasons for the first time since the franchise relocated to the Garden State in 1982-83."

1. The Importance of Nico Hischier

Hischier extended his point streak to three games with his two goals versus the Flames. He has collected six points in his last five games (two goals, four assists). The MSG Networks Devils Broadcast pointed out that the team is 10-3-1 when their captain is in the lineup.

"He means so much to our team," Bratt said to Wachter. "He's our leader, and he is the guy that drives us every night. Just a great player that finally started to get back to his game after a tough injury, and we are happy to have him in the lineup."

2. Vitek Vanecek Earned 10th Win of Season

Entering tonight's game, Vanecek had a record of 3-0-0 versus CGY in his career. He extended that to 4-0-0 and finished Saturday night's contest with a .920 save percentage.

"I thought (Vanecek) was solid," Ruff said. "He made that key save in the third, and he made some good ones in the first."

Per the media notes, Vanecek tied Craig Billington (43 wins) for ninth place all-time in franchise history for career wins.

3. Jesper Bratt Reaches 30-Point Milestone

In Calgary, Bratt secured his 30th and 31st points of the season. He is off to the best start of his career, as the MSG Networks Devils Broadcast pointed out below.

He is riding a four-game point streak and has the second-most points on the team behind Jack Hughes.

4. Devils Blocking Shots

One thing Akira Schmid talked about after his victory versus the Seattle Kraken was the team's blocked shots.

"We made some timely blocked shots. Most shots came from the outside. Once we got inside, they did a good job getting sticks on it or clearing rebounds."

Against Seattle, the team had 16 blocks. Saturday night, the Devils blocked another 16 shots in front of Vanecek. Defenseman Kevin Bahl led all New Jersey skaters with four blocks while Ondrej Palat had the second-most at three.

5. Lindy Ruff Closing in on NHL Record

With the team's victory over the Flames, Ruff is one win shy from tying Ken Hitchcock (849) for fourth in all-time coaching wins. He can tie the record on Sunday evening when the Devils face the Edmonton Oilers.