Boucher contributes again, Devils defeat Flames

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils forward Reid Boucher is hoping this latest promotion will keep him in the NHL for good.
Boucher, who has been in and out of the Devils lineup the past two seasons, has taken some big steps the past two games since being recalled from Albany of the American Hockey League last Friday.

Boucher had a goal and an assist to help the Devils to a 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames at Prudential Center on Tuesday.
"I feel confident right now; I played a lot of good hockey in the AHL before I got called up so I'm feeling pretty good," Boucher said.
Lee Stempniak and Adam Larsson each had a goal and an assist, Andy Greene scored into an empty net and Cory Schneider made 26 saves for New Jersey (23-19-5).
Boucher, 22, had 14 goals, 26 points and a plus-9 rating in 30 AHL games at the time of his call-up.
"We need guys stepping up, we need guys getting opportunities and taking advantage of them with the injuries," Schneider said. "[Boucher] has been knocking on the door here for a couple of years and it's great to see him come up and begin to take advantage of this chance."
Sean Monahan and Kris Russell scored, New Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau had two assists, and goaltender Jonas Hiller made 22 saves for Calgary (20-21-3), which has lost back-to-back games.
The Devils took a 3-1 lead early in the second period when Stempniak and Boucher scored 17 seconds apart. Stempniak finished a 2-on-1 with Mike Cammalleri at 57 seconds; Boucher swept home his second of the season from in the slot at 1:14.
"Those two quick goals in the second obviously put us on our heels," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "We fought back, got another power play goal to make it a game. In the third, we made a push but ran out of time."
Hartley challenged Boucher's goal, claiming Hiller was interfered. After a quick review, the goal was upheld.
Larsson scored his first goal in 41 games to give the Devils a 1-0 lead at 5:12. After passing to Boucher in the right-wing corner, Larsson skated to the slot and took a return pass before driving a shot into the top left corner past Hiller.
"I don't think I'm a one-trick pony with just a good shot," Boucher said. "I'm not the best playmaker but I'm able to do it at times. The Larsson shot was perfect."
Boucher is glad the coaching staff has confidence that he can contribute offensively.
"I've always been a goal scorer, it's just getting to those spots to score goals," he said. "I'm feeling a little bit more comfortable doing that and feel good about my shot. It starts with the little things though. You have to skate, you have to work on the puck to get those chances. Our line was great and we had a lot of zone time and were clicking."
"He's been a very strong competitor, which is the big thing wanted to see from him and now because of that you get to see him be able to produce some points," Devils coach John Hynes said of Boucher, who scored his first game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Calgary tied the game 1-1 when Monahan scored a power-play goal 9:16 into the first. Gaudreau took a pass behind the net and fed Monahan low in the right circle for a one-timer that beat Schneider to the far side.
Russell scored a power-play goal 15:55 into the second to pull the Flames within 3-2. Gaudreau skated to the bottom of the right circle while shielding the puck away from Travis Zajac and backhanded a pass to Russell for a snap shot past Schneider.
"Johnny was real good," Hartley said. "He was flying out there, made some great plays around the net. That's where Johnny's at his best."
Greene's empty-net goal with 1:01 remaining gave the Devils a 4-2 lead.
Cammalleri had an assist in his first game since Dec. 30 because of a hand injury.
"He has great offensive instincts, he shoots the puck well and it's not secret we've been struggling to score lately, so having him back is a huge boost for our team," Stempniak said.