Andrew Mangiapane scored twice in the first period to take a share of the early NHL scoring lead as the Calgary Flames used a quick start and recorded a 5-3 victory over the host New Jersey Devils Tuesday night in Newark, N.J.
The Flames won their fourth straight and beat the Devils for the seventh straight time. Calgary also improved to 13-2 in the past 15 meetings with New Jersey thanks to Mangiapane’s second straight two-goal game.
Mangiapane scored his sixth and seventh goals to move into a share of the league lead with Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and teammate Elias Lindholm, who scored a power-play goal. He scored again after two goals in Monday’s 5-1 win over the host New York Rangers.
Mangiapane’s latest big night gave him 12 goals in his past 10 games. He ended last season on a four-game goal streak and scored for the fourth straight game.
Milan Lucic also scored for the Flames, who took control in a span of 6:21 during the opening period.
Matthew Tkachuk contributed a power-play goal in the third period with his father, Keith Tkachuk, in the crowd.
Pavel Zacha scored twice and Dawson Mercer also tallied for the Devils, who finished 3-2-0 on their season-opening five-game homestand. Former Calgary defenseman Dougie Hamilton added two assists.
Calgary backup goaltender Dan Vladar made 23 of his 27 saves in the final 40 minutes.
New Jersey rookie Nico Daws allowed three goals on seven shots. Scott Wedgewood relieved and made 20 saves.
Lucic began Calgary’s big period when he finished off the breakaway with a wrist shot that sailed under Daws’ pads for his first goal of the season.
Mangiapane scored while falling to the ice on an off-balance wrist shot to the stick side after New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler misplayed the puck inside the blue line in the defensive zone.
Lindholm made it 3-0 by tipping in Rasmus Andersson’s point shot and Mangiapane finished off his breakaway when he deked and fired a wrist shot from near the crease that went past Wedgewood’s right pad.
Zacha scored 7:01 into the second period by firing into the vacated net after Vladar misplayed the puck behind the net. He got his second goal with the extra attacker during a goalmouth scramble with 3:01 remaining.
–Field Level Media
