By The Canadian Press

Nemec scores in OT as Devils douse Flames 2-1

Jan 19, 2026 | 8:55 PM

CALGARY — Simon Nemec scored at 1:18 of overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 NHL victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey (22-23-4), which has won three of its last four games.

Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary (21-23-5), which had a two-game win streak halted. Rookie Matvei Gridin picked up his first NHL assist.

Jacob Markstrom had 21 saves to improve to 13-11-1. Devin Cooley, who had 29 stops, fell to 6-4-3.

Putting a damper on the Devils’ victory was the loss of defenceman Luke Hughes halfway through the second period, who appeared to get shaken up during a puck battle along the sideboards.

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Defenceman Zach Whitecloud made his Calgary debut after being acquired from Vegas on Sunday along with two draft picks and a prospect in a trade that sent longtime Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson to the Golden Knights.

Whitecloud finished with two shots and three blocked shots in 22:33 of ice time.

TAKEAWAYS

Devils: It looks like defenceman Dougie Hamilton has rekindled his offensive touch. His assist on Mercer’s goal gives him five helpers in four games since coach Sheldon Keefe made him a healthy scratch on Jan. 11, which came after a stretch of three points (one goal, two assists) in 29 games. Making his NHL debut on the right wing was 2022 second-round pick Lenni Hameenaho.

Flames: Forward Blake Coleman (upper body) missed his fourth game. However, he was back on the ice with the team at the morning skate and is nearing a return. His spot on a line with Mikael Backlund and Matt Coronato has been taken by Yegor Sharangovich, who had five points (two goals, three assists) in his first three games before being blanked against his former team.

KEY MOMENT

The overtime goal came after a turnover by Flames’ defenceman MacKenzie Weegar who coughed up the puck in his own end to Jack Hughes, who slipped the puck across to Nemec and the defenceman chipped the puck over Cooley.

KEY STAT

Kadri’s ninth goal snaps a 13-game goal drought. He led the Flames with 35 goals last season.

UP NEXT

Devils: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Flames: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2026.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press