When the Devils say they’re finding all different kinds of ways to win hockey games this season, you can’t be sure tonight’s victory against Calgary is what they had in mind.
Two points were secured but it took exceptional work with the first two goals scored by the Devils called back for off-side and a distinct kicking motion, respectively.
Twice the Devils thought they had tied the game, but it wasn’t until Ryan Graves scored off the rush as the third-man in with Nico Hischier and Tomas Tatar that the goals started to count for New Jersey.
Graves’ third goal of the season tied the game and was followed up by a Dougie Hamilton two-man-advantage goal for the first lead of the night. After the 2-1 lead disappeared it was the captain Nico Hischier who did what captains do – lead.
Hischier’s team-leading sixth goal of the season with just over eight minutes ti play, on the Devils 20th shot of the night, secured the comeback and solidified the Devils seventh consecutive victory, 3-2 against the Flames.
“To be honest, I first couldn’t believe it,” Hischier said of his game-winning goal, “because I had this move, it was a little bump-fake, five-hole. I had this move in my head but I thought I’m way too far out. It was pretty cool. It got me fired up.”
The strength of this team is becoming the belief they have every night, no matter the circumstance and tonight brought them new challenges they overcame.
“It wasn’t pretty for sure,” Hischier said, “It wasn’t our best game,I think we didn’t have our legs the first period. To be honest, it was an embarrassing first period, but hey, we found a way and came back, at the end, if you can win those games, it’s huge.”
The Devils have won seven in a row for the first time since seven wins between Feb. 6, 2011, and Feb. 19, 2011.
“Well you have to, in any segment where you win a lot of games, you have to find different ways to win,” head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game, “We’ve been able to find different ways to win a game, I think we’ve been able to find different ways to win.”
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Here are some observations from the game…
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The first period felt very unlike the type of hockey we’ve been used to seeing the New Jersey Devils play this season. Where they have become used to being quick on the pucks and first, the Flames muscled their way into forcing New Jersey to play a more Flames-hockey type of game, one that is heavy hitting. It prevented the Devils from accessing their speed and stuck in perimeter play which is not an ideal recipe for the club.
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The Devils thought they had evened the first period late in the first period when Jonas Siegenthaler rifled a shot through the slot and past a screened Jacob Markstrom. It would have been Siegenthaler’s second goal of the season, but the goal was challenged by the Flames for off-side on the play 29 seconds prior to the goal when Jesper Boqvist entered the offensive zone.
The play was indeed off-side and the call was overturned.
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Five shots after the first period was the lowest shot total in a single period for the Devils this season.
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If one goal called back wasn’t upsetting enough for the crowd, imagine their anger when a second goal was called back early in the second period when Yegor Sharangovich was originally credited with a goal after a flurry in front of Markstrom’s net. The puck found itself at Sharangovich’s skate and while the goal was initially deemed a good goal, the Flames challenged for a ‘distinct kicking motion’, which eventually overturned the goal.
“We had a couple tough ones go against us,” Ruff said of the two overturned goals. “The off-side, definitely. The kicking in, I don’t know, I didn’t agree with it. But sometimes you get those and sometimes you don’t. We didn’t get it.”
It would take a third puck to get behind Markstrom before it counted when off the rush Ryan Graves came streaking through the ice to wire the puck into Calgary’s net. This one would stand, tying the game at one.
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Ryan Graves has three goals in his last five games. While Tomas Tatar‘s assist on the play extends his assist streak to five games, which marks a new career high.
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When the Devils were able to access their game and force the Flames into playing New Jersey’s style of play, the Flames were forced to play on their heels and so began the shift in the game.
After Graves’ goal, a two-man advantage with just under four minutes to play in the period, converting off a wicked Dougie Hamilton shot, with assists going to Fabian Zetterlund and Jesper Bratt.
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The Devils have improved to 5-0-0 when they are the first to trail in a game, while they are also 9-0-0 when Hischier records at least a point.
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