Music: {allcanada} Flames rally in third period, top Devils in shootout

Saturday, November 22, 2014

{allcanada} Flames rally in third period, top Devils in shootout

Christmas - Bublé / Miracle On 34th Street (1947) / It's a Wonderful Life

CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames aren't too keen on losing streaks. They're big on comebacks, though.

Jiri Hudler scored the shootout winner and Karri Ramo made 25 saves as the Flames beat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 in a shootout at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

The Flames, lost 4-3 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, improved to 8-0-1 when coming off a loss and improved their NHL-leading total for wins when trailing after two periods to five.

Scott Clemmensen took the loss in his first start of the season. Cory Schneider had the night off for the first time this season after shutting out the Edmonton Oilers 2-0 on Friday, ending his franchise-record 20 straight starts to begin a season. Schneider had played all but 64 minutes prior to Clemmensen's start.

In the fourth round of the shootout, Hudler beat Clemmensen with a wrist shot to the blocker and Ramo stopped Travis Zajac's to secure the win for the Flames.

Trailing 3-1 with Michael Ryder in the penalty box for interference, Clemmensen stopped Kris Russell's initial point shot after it was tipped by Michael Ferland in front, but Josh Jooris swatted in the rebound to make it 3-2.

The assist was Ferland's first career NHL point.

In the third period, Tuomo Ruutu failed to convert on a chance off the rush, but Flames defenseman Mark Giordano ploughed through Ramo on the backcheck, allowing Ruutu to slide the puck under the Flames goaltender to give the Devils a 4-2 edge at 10:26.

Clemmensen stopped Paul Byron's one-timer from the slot with 5:46 remaining and with Calgary's net empty for an extra attacker, a pair of Giordano point shots.

Clemmensen couldn't stop Jiri Hudler, who corralled the rebound on Giordano's second attempt and fluttered it over the goal line at 17:38.

With five seconds remaining in regulation, Curtis Glencross added his second of the night to tie the game 4-4 to force overtime.

Adam Henrique opened the scoring for the Devils on their first shot of the game 4:51 into the period when he finished a reverse feed from Patrik Elias behind the net.

The lead was extended when former Flame Mike Cammalleri took a blind backhanded pass from Jaromir Jagr and one-timed the backdoor feed behind Ramo for his eighth of the season at 13:46.

Cammalleri spent two separate stints with the Flames (2008-09, 2011-14) and played 216 regular season games, scoring 89 goals and 178 points.

In his first start since April 1, 2014, Clemmensen had plenty of opportunity to knock the rust off making 12 first period saves, including a sliding effort against Johnny Gaudreau after the Devils goaltender coughed up the puck on a clearing attempt with under two minutes remaining.

Nearing the midway mark of the second period, a Lance Bouma feed to Glencross pinballed around the crease and Sean Monahan couldn't shovel his attempt behind Clemmensen, either.

Glencross made good on his second attempt. After picking off Travis Zajac's clearing attempt in the slot, he fired a shot that floated by Clemmensen's glove and to cut New Jersey's lead to 2-1 at 10:18.

The unassisted effort was Glencross' first goal in eight games and just his second in 18 games.

Zajac atoned for the miscue with 6.8 seconds remaining in the second. Henrique's initial shot from the slot struck the crossbar, but Zajac sent the rebound across the goal line before Ramo had the chance to react to restore New Jersey's two-goal edge.

Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan / Miracle On 34th Street (1994)