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National Hockey League
Calgary 5, New Jersey 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 8, 2024
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Jean Hebert, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: 16374

Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves as the Calgary Flames recorded a 5-3 road win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in Newark, N.J.

Connor Zary and Andrew Mangiapane each had a goal and an assist, and Noah Hanifin collected two assists. Mikael Backlund, Kevin Rooney and Andrei Kuzmenko scored Calgary's other goals.

The Flames are on a three-game winning streak and are 7-4-0 in their last 11 games.

Markstrom's excellent play has fueled that hot streak. After stopping 37 of 40 Devils shots on Thursday, Markstrom is 8-3-0 with a .929 save percentage over his last 11 games.

The Devils are 3-6-0 in their last nine games.

Ondrej Palat had two goals and Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist. Jesper Bratt recorded assists on all three Devils goals, increasing his recent total to nine points (four goals, five assists) over a six-game points streak.

Vitek Vanecek stopped 25 of 29 shots. Vanecek played well against Calgary's aggressive offense, but also received some good fortune since the Flames hit four goalposts.

Palat opened the scoring at 15:39 of the first period on a two-on-one rush with Bratt. The Flames equalized at the 18:10 mark when Backlund's bad-angle shot snuck between Vanecek and the post.

New Jersey almost regained the lead during a wild sequence early in the second period, but the momentum quickly swung as Zary scored at the 3:53 mark to put Calgary ahead for good.

Playing in just his second game of the season due to offseason shoulder surgery, Rooney scored his first goal 2:55 into the third period.

A four-minute power play gave the Flames the opportunity to put the game away, yet it was Hischier who struck with a short-handed goal at the 4:02 mark.

Kuzmenko deposited a rebound midway through the third period for his 10th overall goal of the season, and his second with the Flames. Kuzmenko has scored in each of his two games with Calgary since being acquired in last week's blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

Palat scored a tip-in goal 13:46 into the third frame, but Mangiapane sealed the Flames' victory with a late empty-net score.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   New Jersey
Andrew Mangiapane 2 Points Jesper Bratt 3
Andrew Mangiapane 1 Goals Ondrej Palat 2
Noah Hanifin 2 Assists Jesper Bratt 3
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Nico Hischier 1
Jacob Markstrom .925 Save Percentage Vitek Vanecek .862
Jacob Markstrom 37 Saves Vitek Vanecek 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 30 5 0-3 2-2 4 29
New Jersey 40 3 0-2 3-3 6 32
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Devils have a W/L % of .462 after a win and .565 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Flames have a W/L % of .522 after a win and .429 after a loss.