The Calgary Flames needed to pay a bigger price to score goals, and that’s exactly what they did on Friday night in a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.  It was a game the Calgary Flames needed to win, and they were able to score enough to hold off a late Devils comeback in the third period.  Even though it didn’t push them back into the playoff picture, it kept them 1 back of the Detroit Red Wings.

4 of Calgary’s goals were scored by strong play near and around the net.  That was exactly what they had lacked in a 4-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, and it was something referenced following that game by Head Coach Brent Sutter.  And it wasn’t just 1 or 2 players.  It was the entire team for the most part, with all 4 lines chipping in with goals.  Daymond Langkow and Chris Higgins both snapped long streaks…Langkow scored his first goal in 21 games, while Higgins registered a point for the first time in 10 games and for the first time in a Flames jersey.

It wasn’t a great first period for Calgary, as they were thoroughly outplayed by the Devils in the opening 20.  In fact, it could have been a 2 or 3 goal deficit had Miikka Kiprusoff not made some key saves.  But Calgary’s penalty kill stemmed the tide through 20 and came out firing in the final 2 periods.  They were strong, they were quick, and they were physical in the final 40 minutes.  So, it’s good to see the Flames bounce back.  Granted, the Devils weren’t great in those final 2 periods, and Martin Brodeur was NOT good.  He was a bit of a circus all night.  Regardless, the Flames did what they needed to do.

Now they have to do it again.  Brent Sutter said following the game his team needs to be focused on 1 game at a time.  If that’s the case, then they need to play games like this.  Minnesota beat em on Wednesday, and are on home ice against the Flames.  They need to do this and do more…lets see if they can.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

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