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Instant Reaction: Flames grind out a point against Devils
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Jan 19, 2026, 23:32 ESTUpdated: Jan 20, 2026, 00:01 EST
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Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! 
The Calgary Flames hosted the New Jersey Devils at the Saddledome on Monday night in the club’s first game since the departure of longtime Flame Rasmus Andersson.
The game was, admittedly, a bit of a sleepy affair. The Flames lost 2-1 in overtime.

The rundown

Neither team scored in the first period. Both had a few decent looks, but neither was able to generate anything really dangerous – or get anything past the opposition’s netminder.
First period shots were 7-3 Devils. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 6-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances 2-2.
7:51 into the second period, the Devils opened the scoring. Dougie Hamilton made a nice read at the point, firing a puck just to the left of Devin Cooley, right onto the stick of Dawson Mercer for a nice redirect. Cooley couldn’t quite glove it and it trickled over the line to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.
A little bit later, though, the Flames tied things up. Off a nice offensive zone rush play, Nazem Kadri threw a nice pass to a late-arriving Kevin Bahl, who then threw a nice pass back to Kadri for a one-timer that beat Jacob Markstrom – with Connor Zary hanging around out front – to tie the game at 1-1.
Markstrom took away a scoring chance from Ryan Lomberg later in the period, rushing out to knock the puck away.
Second period shots were 13-10 Devils. 5v5 scoring chances were 14-3 Devils and high-danger scoring chances were 6-0 Devils.
The third period was similarly back and forth as the first two frames, but equally low event and tight-checking. Neither team scored.
Third period shots were 9-9. 5v5 scoring chances were 5-3 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 4-0 Flames.
The Devils scored 1:17 into overtime after the puck glanced off the referee’s foot, MacKenzie Weegar couldn’t get good contact on a clearing attempt and Jack Hughes wobbled the puck over to a wide-open Simon Nemec, who evaded a Cooley poke-check attempt and scored on the Flames net to give the Devils a 2-1 win.

Why the Flames got a point

This was the platonic ideal of low event hockey. There were some scoring chances here and there, but this was a battle of wills between two teams that were trying to minimize mistakes and hope the other team made more than they did.
But offensively, this was the type of game where neither team had a lot going consistently.

Red Warrior

Let’s give it to Devin Cooley, who made some big saves at key times. He made a bit of a bad read on the poke-check attempt in overtime, but it’s hard to blame him for trying to make a play in a tough spot.

Turning point

Cooley made a breakaway stop on Nico Hischier in the third period during a sequence of four-on-four. If Cooley’s not sharp here, the Flames don’t have a chance to get a point.

This and that

This was the Flames debut for newly-acquired blueliner Zach Whitecloud. He played 22:23 and had two shots on goal.

After Burner

Join Kent Wilson and Robert Munnich right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (21-23-5) host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi

This article is a Presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the best warranty in the business with ten year warranties available. Check out the showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca

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