The New Jersey Devils hosted the Calgary Flames on Thursday, March 20. Despite holding the lead initially, the Devils lost to the Flames 5-3. The Flames have now won both games in the season series.
Devils Had a Strong First Two Periods
The Devils played like a cohesive team in the first two periods, and the score showed it.
With three minutes left in the period, Stefan Noesen sent the puck down the ice for Nico Hischier. Hischier picked up the puck and skated it around the back of the net. With a wrap-around shot, he scored to get the Devils on the board first.
Five minutes into the second, the Devils extended their lead. Brian Dumoulin picked up the loose puck near the faceoff circle. He passed it to Erik Haula in the center of the ice. Haula took the shot, and the puck bounced off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Although the Flames scored a goal in the second, Paul Cotter scored in the final seconds of the second period to keep the Devils’ lead alive heading into the third. Brenden Dillon controlled the puck in the Devils’ defensive zone. He passed to Hischier, who was off to his right. Hischier skated the puck through the neutral zone. He passed it along the boards when he reached the blue line. Paul Cotter possessed the puck and skated it up to the goal. While Dustin Wolf hugged the left side of the net, Cotter used his speed to skate the puck into the empty opening of the net.
While the Devils played like a strong team in the first two periods, it all fell apart in the third.
Devils Gave Up a Two-Goal Lead
Six minutes into the third, the Flames tallied their second goal of the night. The Devils still had a single-goal cushion to keep them alive in this game. With five minutes left, the Flames tied it with their third of the night. Exactly a minute later, they scored their fourth to take the lead. The Devils pulled Jacob Markstrom in an attempt to make a comeback with the extra attacker, but the Flames solidified their victory with an empty net goal.
Related: Flames Stun Devils with Third Period Comeback, Win 5-3
The Devils had a two-goal cushion heading into the third period, but it was not enough to give them the win. The Flames had 15 shots on net in the third, while the Devils only had four. Calgary barely let New Jersey touch the puck in the third period. This helped give the Flames the victory.
Devils Took Too Many Penalties
New Jersey went to the penalty box for ten minutes compared to Calgary’s four. Two of these were unnecessary penalties – puck over the glass. Luckily for the Devils, only one of the five goals the Flames scored was on the power play. Despite giving Calgary several extra-man advantages, the Devils’ penalty kill was strong following the first power-play goal.
Devils’ Goaltending Looked Weak
Markstrom started in goal for the Devils in this game. He recorded 23 saves on 27 shots. The four goals he allowed earned him a save percentage (SV%) of .852.
Since returning from his injury, Markstrom has played in six games, starting on March 2. Only the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 11 resulted in a win. While he was a solid goaltender for the Devils in the first half of the season, he has not played the same since his injury back in January.
Jake Allen has only played three games this month, but he has been stellar for the Devils in comparison. He has won all three games in March and earned a whopping .978 SV% after stopping 45 shots in his last game on March 17 in Columbus. Allen has been the stronger of the two goaltenders this month. After Markstrom’s performance in this game, the Devils should look to start Allen against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Back at it on Saturday
The Devils will play again on Saturday, March 22 when they host the Senators.
