Flames 3, Devils 2
CALGARY, Alberta -- Sean Monahan's 19th birthday present came one day early.
Monahan, the sixth-overall selection in the 2013 draft, scored for his fourth consecutive game and netted the biggest tally of them all so far, the third-period winner in a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Monahan, who has points in five consecutive games to start his NHL career, quietly worked his way behind a pair of Devils defenders when fellow rookie Sven Baertschi spied him and fired a beautiful cross-ice pass for him to convert past Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.
It capped a see-saw game for a Flames team that opened the season with a 3-0-2 record after being pegged by most as a bottom feeder.
Adam Henrique put the Devils on the board and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at the first intermission, but a pair of Flames power-play goals sandwiched around a Dainius Zubrus tally in the middle frame left it a 2-2 affair after 40 minutes.
Dennis Wideman ripped a point-shot slapper early in the second period and Mark Giordano added a final-minute man-advantage marker before the Scotiabank Saddledome sellout crowd of 19,289.
The last time Brodeur played in Calgary, midway though the 2011-12 season, he was hooked after surrendering a pair of goals on five shots in the first seven minutes. He was more like the sure-fire, first-ballot hall-of-fame netminder in this outing, despite taking the loss. He made a couple of dandy saves on Jiri Hudler, including a third-period desperation stop by reaching back with his glove to take away an open net.
At the other end, Flames goalie Joey MacDonald made his fourth consecutive start and was very solid with a 19-save outing.
NOTES: Flames RW David Jones (upper body) was injured in the previous game and will be out on a week-to-week basis, therefore joining LW Michael Cammalleri (hand) and C Matt Stajan (leg) on the shelf. Calgary summoned C Blair Jones from the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat, but he did not dress. Instead, RW Tim Jackman suited up for his first game of the season. ... After being a healthy scratch last game, D Adam Larsson, the 2011 first-round draft choice in his third NHL season, was back in the lineup. ... Flames D Chris Breen is back playing after offseason shoulder surgery. Breen, hasn't played a NHL game but is on the radar to skate with the big club, but is first doing a conditioning assignment in the minors and will return to Calgary. He would have to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL on a full-time basis. ... With the first-period goal by C Adam Henrique, the Devils opened the scoring in four consecutive games. ... Calgary RW Jiri Hudler has a point in all five games this season. His career best is six consecutive games. ... The Flames next embark on a five-game road trip that begins Wednesday in Anaheim, while the Devils (0-2-3) continue their five-game trip Sunday in Winnipeg.
