When the New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames went to overtime at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Sheldon Keefe shined the Nemo signal, and Simon Nemec came calling.
The clutch gene is alive and well in Nemec, propelling the Devils to a 2-1 victory past the Flames in overtime, scoring his third goal of the season in the extra frame.
The Flames hemmed the Devils in their end early, cutting New Jersey off in the neutral zone and keeping pucks out of their end of the ice.
Lenni Hameenaho registered the Devils’ first shot on goal about seven minutes into the first.
Then, Nazem Kadri was whistled for a holding minor on Cody Glass at the 7:49 mark of the first period, sending New Jersey to a brief power play. Nico Hischier negated the advantage when he tripped Joel Farabee 18 seconds later.
New Jersey found their legs during 4-on-4 play, pressuring Flames goaltender Devin Cooley with six shots while skating circles around Calgary with more ice available.
Yet, 5-on-5 play ensued, and the first frame ended with the Devils holding a 7-3 shot advantage.
The Devils had an early penalty to kill off in the second period when Glass was penalized for hooking Connor Zary at the 4:30 mark of the middle frame.
Connor Brown nearly opened the scoring shorthanded on a semi-breakaway. However, he missed the net and, at the very least, shaved some time off the penalty kill.
Back at even strength, Dawson Mercer gave the Devils a 1-0 lead, redirecting an impressive touch pass by Dougie Hamilton on Cooley’s doorstep.
Just under two minutes later, Nazem Kadri tied the game, finishing a give-and-go with Kevin Bahl.
At the 11:15 mark of the third, Luke Hughes took an awkward hit and left the game for the Devils’ locker room.
At the start of the third period, it was revealed that Luke did not return to the game.
Several chances were exchanged between the Devils and Flames in the final frame. In fact, they ended the third period in a 9-9 tie on the shot counter.
Yet, the game required overtime, and to the extra frame, the Devils and Flames went.
Nemec, back in the lineup after a healthy scratch in the previous outing, the pass from Jack Hughes while on Cooley’s doorstep and snuck the puck by the Calgary goaltender to seal the victory for New Jersey.
Markstrom earned his 13th win of the season, making 21 saves on 22 shots.
