Instant Reaction: Flames grind out a point against Devils

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.

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 the puck wobbled over to 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.

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.