The New Jersey Devils are sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 25-21-3.
Despire getting Jack Hughes back in the lineup, the New Jersey Devils suffered their 21st season loss Thursday night as the Calgary Flames defeated them at Prudential Center by a final score of 5-3.
The Devils scored the game's opening goal a little over 15 minutes into the first period. Ondrej Palat scored his seventh of the season off a beautiful pass from Jesper Bratt. Nico Hischier was credited with the secondary assist.
The Flames tied the game at 1-1 less than three minutes later. Mikael Backlund scored his 11th of the season. Andrew Mangiapane and ex-Devil Blake Coleman earned the helpers.
After 20 minutes, the Devils held a 12-10 shot advantage with the score even at 1-1.
Calgary extended their lead to 2-1 early in the middle frame. Connor Zary jumped on a loose puck in the crease. Devils netminder Vitek Vanecek thought he had the puck, but it slowly rolled behind him, and Zary poked it in.
Calgary gained momentum as the period went on and hit a couple of posts before the buzzer went off, signaling the end of the period.
Puck luck was on New Jersey's side as they entered the second intermission down 2-1 despite a 23-20 shot advantage.
Former Devil Kevin Rooney, recalled from the American Hockey League on Feb. 4, extended Calgary's lead to 3-1 less than three minutes into the final frame.
Erik Haula was called for a high-sticking - double minor penalty against Chris Tanev minutes after the Flames scored. About 40 seconds into the penalty kill, Bratt pushed the puck out of his zone. Hischier picked it up in the neutral zone and scored a shorthanded goal, pulling his team within one.
Calgary regained their two-goal lead with Andrei Kuzmenko's second goal in as many games. Zary earned his second point of the night, being credited with an assist.
With six minutes remaining, Palat scored his second of the game after he tipped in Colin Miller's shot from the blue line. Bratt collected his third point of the night.
Down by a goal, the Devils pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. Mangiapane secured Calgary's win by hitting the empty net with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Vanecek made 25 saves on 29 shots.
UP NEXT: The Devils will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Feb. 10.
LINES:
Ondrej Palat - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier - Erik Haula - Dawson Mercer
Tyler Toffoli - Jack Hughes - Alexander Holtz
Curtis Lazar - Tomas Nosek - Nathan Bastian
Kevin Bahl - Simon Nemec
Luke Hughes - John Marino
Santeri Hatakka - Colin Miller
Vitek Vanecek
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