Jacob Markstrom makes 37 saves for New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves, Connor Zari and Andrew Mangiapan each had a goal and an assist, and the Calgary Flames beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 on Thursday night for their third straight win.

Mikael Backlund, Kevin Rooney and Andriy Kuzmenko also scored for Calgary in a 4-1 win in Boston on Tuesday, which begins a four-game road trip that includes meetings with three teams from the New York/New Jersey area.

Defenseman Noah Hanifan had two assists for the Flames, whose winning streak comes after four games. Markstrom improved to 16-13-2.

“This is the best I've seen him play since I've been around him,” Flames first-year coach Ryan Huska said of his veteran goaltender. “He gave us a chance to win every night.”

Ondrej Palat scored twice, Nico Hischier also scored and Jesper Bratt had three assists for New Jersey, which beat Colorado 5-3 at home on Tuesday.

“The first period was good, the second period was bad, and in the third period we were chasing. It's disappointing,” Palat said. “We're looking for stability.”

Palat opened the scoring at 15:39 of the first, finishing a 2-on-1 break with Bratt. Hischier also helped.

After that, the captain of the Flames Backlund scored his 11th goal at 18:10.

Rookie forward Zari gave Calgary the lead at 3:53 of the second, scoring a loose puck past Vitek Vanecek. The goal was the 12th in 41 games for the 22-year-old Zari, a 2020 first-round pick of the Flames.

“It was nice to come out and help,” Zari said. “So far, it's been great to come here and play in the NHL, try to be an everyday player and prove myself.”

Rooney made it 3-1 with his first of the season in the third at 2:55.

Hischier cut the deficit to one with a short-handed goal at 4:02 of the third, his 14th of the season.

“We had chances, but we just couldn't hold on,” Hischier said. “These things happen. There's still a lot of hockey left.”

Kuzmenko restored the Flames' two-goal lead with his 10th goal at 9:56 and his second in two games since joining Calgary in a trade from Vancouver.

Palat scored his second of the game and eighth of the season at 13:48 of the third, and Mangiapane added an empty net goal at 18:26 to complete the scoring.

“We just came out like hyenas in the second period,” Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. “That's the type of game we have to play and I think it's a tough one for us to play against.”

The Devils are 25-21-3, five points out of a wild-card playoff spot.

“When the tough goals come in, you kind of slack off a little bit,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “You have to pick yourself up again. You either get your jumps or you are responsible for giving up jumps.”

JACK IS BACK

Devils center Jack Hughes returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury suffered in the Jan. 5 home win against Chicago. He had four shots on goal.

NOTES: Huberdeau hit his 800th career game. Huberbaugh, 30, was the third overall pick out of Florida in 2011. He was acquired in a trade with the Panthers in July 2022. … Former Devil Yegor Sharangovich made his first guest appearance in New Jersey. The 25-year-old forward skated with the Devils for three seasons before being traded to Calgary in the deal that sent Tyler Toffoli to New Jersey last season. Sharangovic conceded to the hosts after a moment of respect in the first period. … New Jersey won the season opener in Calgary on Dec. 9, 4-2.

NEXT UP

Devils: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Flames: Saturday at New York Islanders.

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