Devils Postgame: Flames Fans Taunt Jacob Markstrom in Calgary Return Amid 3-0 Loss

The New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames met for the first time in the 2024-25 season, and there were some familiar faces on each end of the ice.

It was the first time both Jacob Markstrom and Kevin Bahl faced their former clubs after they were traded for each other this summer. It wasn’t the first time Yegor Sharangovich faced New Jersey, but the ex-Devils forward has made a new home in Calgary.

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However, it was another ex-Devil who played spoiler in Markstrom’s return to the Saddledome

Devils Recap

The first 50-plus minutes of the game saw no goals between the Devils and Flames, that was until Calgary broke the ice. The Flames didn’t need very long to widen the gap. However, the first goal came on the stick of former Devil, Blake Coleman — assisted by ex-Devil defenseman, Kevin Bahl. Johnathan Huberdeau added an insurance marker 28 seconds later, and Coleman buried his second of the night with the Devils’ net empty to secure the 3-0 Flames victory.

Markstrom made 29 saves on 31 shots he faced, turning aside four power play shots and one short-handed chance.

Takeaways

Slow Start Buoyed by Markstrom

The Devils didn’t exactly make Jacob Markstrom‘s job easy in the first period against his former club.

In fact, it took New Jersey eight and a half minutes to generate their first shot on Dan Vladar, whereas the Flames already reached double digits.

Fortunately, Markstrom was a little extra motivated to have a strong showing in his old barn, stopping all 12 shots he faced in the opening frame, one on a Flames power play.

The good news? The Devils’ defense wasn’t all that bad, as the Flames didn’t generate any high-danger shots on Markstrom.

Shut Out

The Devils’ slow start couldn’t be undone for the remaining 40 minutes.

Markstrom did well keeping New Jersey within reach through 50-plus minutes, but it was the Flames who ultimately broke through and once the dam broke, it kept on coming.

The Devils couldn’t really get their offense going at all Friday night. Rarely did they get the puck deep into Calgary’s zone, win a puck battle, set up the cycle, and create scoring chances. On the power play, Vladar stood the Devils up on the three legitimate high danger chances they registered.

Jack Hughes even squandered a couple of breakaway opportunities.

It just simply wasn’t their night, as the usual high-powered offense only notched 22 shots on goal.

It’s a shame what came next.

Flames Fans Taunt Markstrom

The Devils’ loss is on anyone but Markstrom.

He didn’t need to be Hercules out there, but he kept New Jersey within striking distance and made a couple of excellent saves that probably should have wound up in the back of the Devils’ net.

The Devils simply couldn’t provide him any offense.

Eventually, the Flames broke through for three quick goals within the last few minutes of the third period, which got Calgary’s fans going, chanting, “Maaaaaarkstrooooom!”

Calgary crowd showered Jacob Markstrom with "Markstroooooom" chants after the Devils gave up three late goals in the third period 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wHjhezil3S

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 2, 2024

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