While the playoffs don’t appear to be in the cards for the New Jersey Devils this season, at least they’re playing well on their longest home stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, the road continues to be a problem for the lowly Calgary Flames.
Vying to bounce back after its four-game winning streak came to an end, the Devils aim to hand the Flames a fifth straight road defeat on Thursday night in Newark, N.J.
New Jersey entered play Wednesday 12 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. However, the Devils are 3-1-0 on a seven-game home stretch despite losing 3-0 to Detroit on Sunday.
“It’s always great to be in our home building, be in your own comfortable surroundings,” defenseman Brenden Dillon told the Devils’ team website. “It’s been great.”
The Devils totaled 18 goals during their four-game winning streak and have recorded at least 30 shots on goal in each of the last six contests. However, they were stymied by a talented Detroit club that’s currently in playoff position in the East.
“Every game at this time of the year is harder,” Dillon added. “There’s less space. There’s more importance on those points … A new level gets found in those games. It’s harder to play in those games. We have to understand that.”
Olympic hero Jack Hughes wasn’t able to build on the hat trick and assist he recorded during the Devils’ 6-3 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday, but he has nine points in seven games since posting the gold medal-winning goal for the United States at the Milan Cortina Games.
New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom allowed three goals Sunday for a third consecutive game. Teammate Jake Allen has yielded two goals in each of his last two appearances, but has not made a start since Feb. 25.
Markstrom stopped 21 of 22 shots and Hughes assisted on Simon Nemec’s overtime goal for the Devils’ 2-1 victory at Calgary on Jan. 19.
Sitting second-to-last in the West, the Flames have managed just 12 goals while mired in a 1-5-1 rut. They fell to 0-3-1 on the road during that stretch following Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers.
“(On Tuesday), we were making plays to get chances,” said Calgary’s Morgan Frost, second on the team with 32 points.
“Just got to find a way to put the puck in the net. It’s not an easy league to score in. Keep working at it. We’re doing some good things, I think it will come.”
Calgary has also allowed at least four goals in each of the last five contests.
The Flames’ Dustin Wolf made 25 saves Tuesday, but has yielded four goals in each of his last three starts. Teammate Devin Cooley (2.45 goals-against average) gave up a season-high six goals during Monday’s 7-3 loss at Washington.
With Nazem Kadri now playing in Colorado, Mikael Backlund is the Flames leader with 36 points. However, he’s totaled just one during the last seven games.
