Devils Comeback Falls Short to Calgary | THE STORY OF THE GAME

Here are some notes from the game:

• The Devils got a boost in the game with the return of Jack Hughes. He has missed the last 11 games and hasn't played since Jan. 5.

Hughes made an immediate impact and his line with Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Holtz jumped around a lot. They created a lot of scoring chances, were difficult to handle and dominated the attacking zone at times.

They did everything but score. Unfortunately.

• The Devils trailed 4-3 with less than six minutes to play. It was their best chance to equalise, but the man advantage failed.

• Bratt scored on a 2-on-1 play with Hischier against Colorado on Tuesday. This time it was 2-on-1 again, but now he passed to Bratt Ondrej Palat for the goal.

The play began in the Devils' defensive zone. Simon Nemec forced a substitution for Andrew Mangiapan. Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin intervened in the game. Bratt and Palat immediately read the counterattack, and the puck found its way to Hissier. Bratt used a nice leg kick to sell the shot before passing to Palat, who buried a quick kick.

• Bratt's effort helped the Devils to a shorthanded goal. At that time, pressure was put on Kuzmenko. Bratt muscled it in, then flicked the puck to a racing Hischier. He took a break and went six holes to report.

• Speaking of Bratt and his shorthanded game, he was truly a threat for PKC. He just started working in the unit this season and has really blossomed as both a PKer and an offensive threat on the PK.

• Bratt extended his hitting streak to six games. He has four goals and five assists for nine points in those six games.

• The Devils killed Eric Haula in the third period with a four-minute double high sticking minor. It was a critical kill in crunch time with the Devils trailing 3-1 at the time. Not only did New Jersey kill them both, but they scored shorthanded to make it a 3-2 game. Curtis Lazar's effort, diligence and purity were evident. Vanczek made several big saves, including a huge one on former Devil Egor Sharangovic.

• The Devils fell victim to a couple of fluke goals against Calgary. Backlund's goal went over the goal line when the puck bounced off Vanecek's elbow. The second goal was scored by Nazim Kadri's shot that was squeezed inside Vanecek. The puck was dead on the ice and none of the Devils, including Vanecek, realized it. The only player to notice was Calgary's Connor Zary, who ran it over the goal line.

• Tends to hand over the Devils goal to former club members. This time it was Kevin Rooney who shot the puck from the right. It was his first NHL goal since December 7, 2021.