Devils Hold on to Win Third Game of Trip  | GAME STORY

CALGARY - The Devils scored twice in the second period and twice more in the third on the strength of a two-point effort from Jesper Bratt and captain Nico Hischier on their way to a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon.

Calgary carried the play for the majority of the opening period. Shots on goal with six minutes to go in the first were 12-5 for the Flames but the game remained scoreless.

Devils started to pick up the play late in the period and drew a penalty for interference on Rasmus Andersson after he tied up Nico Hischier in front of the Flames net.

Devils were unable to score and two seconds before the power play ended, Yegor Sharangovich was sprung on a breakaway by Blake Coleman. Sharangovich made a nice move in close before backhanding it by Vitek Vanecek to put the Flames up by a goal.

Shots on goal after one were 13-6 for the Flames.

"It was not a great start at all," said Devils captain Nico Hischier. "We just started playing in the second period. Didn't play in the first period at all. Lost too many battles in the first period. Weren't skating enough. Just got to bring it for 60 minutes."

Devils tied the game up 3:28 into the second after some sustained pressure. Jesper Bratt spotted Hischier at the right circle and Hischier rifled a shot short side for the goal.

"Bratter made a great play, pulled everyone in the middle and I tried to go short side and it worked out," Hischier said. 

Ruff said he's liked the play of Palat, Bratt and Hischier a lot and sees them finding their groove. 

"They've been a good line for us," Ruff stated. "They were good early in the year and then we lost Nico for a period of time. They like playing with each other and read off each other well."

Dennis Gilbert's shot from the point rang off the crossbar behind Vanecek just over a minute later.

Devils scored another with 7:29 to go in the second. Coleman tried to clear the puck from the side of the net but it went off Bratt in front and in. The Flames challenged the play for goaltender interference because Hischier slid into goaltender Dustin Wolf. After review, it was determined that Hischier was pushed into Wolf by a Flames defender. Calgary received a two-minute penalty for unsuccessful challenge.

"It's something we talked about. You don't always get those nice goals off the rush and fancy plays," said Bratt. "We felt like we needed a couple of those greasy goals. I wouldn't say it was a skilled play. It was a lucky play but we're getting to the areas and when you get there, good things happen."

New Jersey did not score on the man advantage but controlled the play and had some great chances. They also overtook the Flames in shots for the game at 18-17 -- 11-5 in the second period through 15 minutes.

Shot count after 40 minutes ended up even at 18-18.

From the corner, Alex Holtz intercepted the puck and centered it. It went off of Calgary's Dillon Dube as he was being pressured by Timo Meier. The goal made it 3-1 Devils.

"He's grown a lot of maturity," said Bratt of Holtz. "He's getting older and been around us a lot in the last year. He's been getting more minutes and stepped up when guys were injured. He gained confidence from that."

With 5:14 to go in the third, Nazem Kadri wristed a shot from the side boards past Vanecek to pull the Flames to within one.

Nico Hischier fired the puck the length of the ice into an empty net with 37.7 seconds to go to clinch this one.

Here are some observations and stats from the game:

• Having also won in Calgary last year, it was the first time that the Devils have ever defeated the Flames in back-to-back years since moving to New Jersey in 1982.

• The shorthanded goal given up to Sharangovich was the first one for the Devils since Miles Wood -- another former Devil -- scored for the Colorado Avalanche back on November 7. Those are the only two shorthanded goals that New Jersey has given up this season.

• Coach Ruff made an adjustment going into the second period, moving Alex Holtz back up to the third line with Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer. Curtis Lazar slid down to play with Mike McLeod and Nate Bastian.

"I was more looking for a grind line with that fourth line," said Ruff of his decision. "Didn't like our first period but thought maybe Lazar-McLeod-Bastian could get us some zone time and they did that."

Ruff added that he felt Holtz aquitted himself well on the third line, resulting in the goal. 

"He made a good play getting it to the front of the net and Timo went to the net hard."

• The Devils are 8-9-1 when allowing the first goal in a game this season. The eight wins is first in the NHL.

• Bratt had a good quote when asked about the success of his line lately.

"We're starting in the right end. We're playing really good defensively right now. We're staying on pucks, we're facing pucks, stopping in our spot and sticking to our system. It allows us to play more offense, play with the puck, create scoring chances and use our skill."

• Kevin Bahl was hit with a puck while defending between the hashmarks late in the second period. He was in considerable pain but stayed out for probably another minute while the Devils tried to clear the puck. Bahl returned to start the third.