Calgary Flames vs New Jersey Devils Picks and Predictions November 1st 2024

Riding a Four-Game Skid, Flames Seek Redemption Against Red-Hot Devils

The New Jersey Devils are cruising as they head into their matchup against the struggling Calgary Flames on Friday. The Devils come in hot, sitting at the top of the Metropolitan Division and fresh off an authoritative 6-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, Calgary is looking to find its footing again after four straight losses, hoping to recapture the early-season momentum that saw them start the season strong.

Devils Ride High with Offensive Firepower and Stellar Defense

The Devils have unleashed an offensive onslaught in their past two games, kicking off their western Canada road trip with impressive back-to-back high-scoring wins. On Wednesday, New Jersey made a statement by scoring in the game’s first minute against Vancouver and controlling the pace throughout. The Devils allowed just 20 shots, and their newly acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who joined from Calgary over the summer, secured his first shutout of the season.

“We were full marks for all three periods,” said Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “All four lines, special teams, goaltending—everything was solid. It was a low-event hockey game, but I love that our guys were comfortable with that, especially once we got the lead.”

New Jersey snapped a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) with a 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks before heading to Vancouver. Now, their offense looks unstoppable, with several players contributing on a nightly basis. Jesper Bratt is currently on a six-game point streak, and Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer both contributed a goal and an assist in Vancouver. However, the standout performer remains Nico Hischier, who is riding a four-game goal streak with 10 goals to lead the league.

“I’m riding a wave right now,” Hischier said, acknowledging his current hot streak. “I’ve had times in my career when pucks just weren’t going in, so I’m enjoying this while it lasts.”

Flames Struggle to Regain Early-Season Momentum

On the other side, the Calgary Flames find themselves in a slump, having dropped four consecutive games and five of their last six. Their most recent loss—a 5-1 defeat on the road to the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday—marked a low point as they were outscored 10-1 over their last two games.

Captain Mikael Backlund, who played his 1,000th career game in Salt Lake City and will be honored in a pre-game ceremony on Friday, voiced his frustration and determination to rally his team. “You could say we’re in a pit of doom right now, but we’ve got to climb ourselves out of it,” Backlund said. “It’s up to us, the 23 players here, to turn this around.”

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The Flames started the season on a high note with a 5-0-1 record, marking their best start since relocating to Calgary in 1980. But since then, they’ve lost their edge, with their once-strong work ethic and defensive grit slipping away. Head coach Ryan Huska stressed the need to return to a more disciplined, team-focused approach.

“The last two games, we haven’t had the work ethic we need,” Huska said. “If we’re going to try and do things on our own or play a cute game, it’s not going to work for us. That starts at the top and works its way down. I hope the team understands that.”

Backlund’s Call for Unity and Aggressive Play

As captain, Backlund knows it’s up to him to reinforce Huska’s message and rally his teammates to put in a more committed effort. He emphasized the need to focus on team cohesion and a selfless approach to their play.

“We all need to be better, both as individuals and as a team,” he said. “We have to play for each other again. Before this road trip, we were playing hard and aggressive. We got away from that, and it’s on us to get back to it. Starting next game, in the first 10 minutes, we need every puck to get in, and we need to go to work.”

Key Matchup: Flames’ Defensive Resolve vs. Devils’ Scoring Surge

This game presents an intriguing clash of styles. The Flames will need to dig deep and play with the defensive intensity and teamwork they showed earlier in the season to counter the Devils’ relentless attack. With Markstrom coming in hot off a shutout and Hischier leading the league in goals, the Devils have plenty of momentum, but Calgary will aim to make their home ice advantage count.

The outcome of this matchup may come down to which team imposes its style first: if the Flames can regain their defensive discipline, they could finally snap their losing streak. But if the Devils start fast and force Calgary onto the back foot, the Flames could find themselves facing an even steeper uphill climb.