NEWARK, NJ - A couple former Devils struck back at their former team to lift the Calgary Flames to a 5-4 victory against New Jersey at Prudential Center on Thursday night.

John Beecher scored two goals, captain Mikael Backlund added a goal and former Devils Kevin Bahl and Yegor Sharangovich tallied against their former employer in the win.

Maxim Tsyplakov, Simon Nemec, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes scored for the Devils in the losing effort.

"It's hard to win when you give up five," Jack Hughes said. "That's probably the story of the night.

"Just a frustrating loss."

The Devils fell behind 5-2 early in the third period but clawed their way back. Though their fourth goal came with 3.7 seconds left and by then it was too late. 

"We scored four at home. That last goal (against) was a tough one. I have to have that to give the guys a chance to claw and scratch back," Markstrom said. "Falling short by one is a tough one."

The Devils will now move on to Saturday's game against Los Angeles for the sixth game of their seven-game homestand. 

“Looking for the next game, the next game is the most important,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “It sucks obviously. I hate losing but you have to move on. We have to be ready for the. Next game now. We have to win some games here. It’s do or die.”

Here are some observations from the game:

•  Jack Hughes continues to excel since the Olympic break. He has four goals and 11 points in eight games, which includes a hat trick and four-point night against the New York Rangers.

Hughes had a goal and assist for a two-point night against the Flames. 

• Nemec picked up his tallied 10^th goal of the season, hitting double digits for the first time in his career. It came on the power play with him in the crease. Nemec attacked the net as Luke Hughes put a puck on net. Nemec found the loose rebound and slammed it into the net.

• Tsyplakov scored his first goal as a Devil in the first period. He took a pass in between the circles and ripped a shot on goal that went off the skate of a Flames' player and deflected over the arm of goalie Dustin Wolf and into the netting.

It was Tsyplakov’s first goal in his last 32 games overall.

• Center Nick Bjugstad picked up the lone assist on Tsyplakov's goal, his first career point as a Devil. 

• The Devils had a four-minute power play to end the first period and start the second. It came thanks to a high stick from Calgary’s Joel Hanley into the face of Jack Hughes that caused some blood to be drawn. Poor Hughes has had lots of issues with those high sticks lately.

• Backlund's third-period goal was his 600th career NHL point.