Flames score nine, hand Devils seventh loss in row

CALGARY --Johnny Gaudreau had an NHL career-high six points (three goals, three assists), and the Calgary Flames handed the New Jersey Devils their seventh straight loss with a 9-4 win at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.

It was Gaudreau's fifth hat trick in the NHL and the first six-point game in the League this season.
"I knew I still had it, they just weren't going in," said Gaudreau, who hadn't scored in his previous nine games. "Our line, it's been a tough month for us. But we work hard, we're a good line, (and) we've got good chemistry."
WATCH: [All Devils vs. Flames highlights]
Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm, Gaudreau's linemates, each had a goal and three assists, Derek Ryan had two goals and an assist, and David Rittich made 22 saves for the Flames (43-20-7), who have won two in a row following a four-game losing streak and trail the San Jose Sharks by one point for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
"Hopefully we can build from this and keep playing this way the rest of the games that are left," Lindholm said.

Blake Coleman had a goal and an assist, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 30 saves for the Devils (25-36-9), who are 0-6-1 in their past seven games, their longest losing streak since they lost 10 in a row (0-8-2) from Feb. 19-March 11, 2017.
"This time of year, it doesn't matter if you're in the playoffs or out, the intensity of the game rises, (the) battle level," Devils captain Andy Greene said. "Everyone's playing extremely hard right now. It doesn't matter if you're a playoff team or not. It's a good lesson to learn."
Calgary trailed 4-3 entering the third period before scoring six unanswered goals. It was the first time they've scored six in a single period since March 17, 1995, against the Winnipeg Jets.
Ryan scored 41 seconds into the period to tie it 4-4, and Gaudreau beat Blackwood blocker side on a penalty shot 20 seconds later to give Calgary a 5-4 lead.

"We were down 4-3 there and two big goals, first shift, second shift," said Gaudreau, who is the first player to record six points in a game since Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars did it against Calgary on Nov. 14, 2013. "Next thing you know, we're playing with the lead in the third and we kind of ran away with it."
Ryan scored his second on a tap-in off a pass from Gaudreau on a 2-on-1 to extend the lead to 6-4 at 2:37, and Gaudreau completed the hat trick with a backhand five-hole at 12:01 to make it 7-4.
Monahan converted from in front with 1:19 remaining to make it 8-4, and Matthew Tkachuk scored his 30th goals of the season 16 seconds later to push the lead to 9-4.
"Sometimes you're fighting the puck, sometimes you're feeling good, you're getting looks, you're making plays up and down the ice," Gaudreau said. "Our line was clicking tonight. We knew we had some jump in there from warm-ups, and we came in the locker room and we knew we were going to have a good night."
Gaudreau scored five-hole off a backhand deke to put Calgary up 1-0 at 5:05 of the first period.

Coleman tied it 1-1 on a breakaway at 16:03, and Kyle Palmieri redirected Damon Severson's point shot five-hole on Rittich to put New Jersey ahead 2-1 at 18:18.
Kenny Agostino scored 54 seconds into the second period to make it 3-1.
Sam Bennett scored on a one-timer from the right hash marks off a pass from Mark Giordano from behind the net to cut it to 3-2 at 7:17, and Lindholm tied it 3-3 at 10:13 after getting his own rebound in front.
Travis Zajac scored shorthanded on a 2-on-1 to make it 4-3 at 17:49.
"It was unacceptable by everyone in this locker room," Greene said. "We cannot do that. It doesn't matter who is in the lineup and who is out, we have to play as hard as we can for each other until the final whistle."

They said it

"Anytime you're putting the pucks in the net, it's fun. The main goal in this sport is to win hockey games and whatever we can do to contribute, that's our jobs." -- Flames forward Sean Monahan

"It's one day. There are good days and there are bad days. This is a bad day. I've had good days, I'm going to have bad days. Tomorrow's a new day. I'm not bringing this game with me into tomorrow. It stays here in Calgary." -- Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood

Need to know

Gaudreau is the 11th player in Flames history to record six points in a game and first since Al MacInnis on March 20, 1994. … Calgary is the first team to score nine goals in two games in a season since the St. Louis Blues did it in 2010-11. The Flames last had multiple nine-goal games in a season in 1991-92 (three times). … Calgary's record for goals in a period is seven, set on Oct. 17, 1988, against the Los Angeles Kings.

What's next

Devils:At the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, NHL.TV)
Flames: Host the New York Rangers on Friday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNW, MSG 2, NHL.TV)