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Flames cool off Devils

When David Jones broke into the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche eight seasons ago, he didn’t think about eventually scoring his 100th goal.Not only did Jones reach the memorable milestone on Tuesday in his 407th NHL game, his goal stood up as the winner and he also had an assist to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

CALGARY — When David Jones broke into the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche eight seasons ago, he didn’t think about eventually scoring his 100th goal.

Not only did Jones reach the memorable milestone on Tuesday in his 407th NHL game, his goal stood up as the winner and he also had an assist to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

“To get 100 goals in the NHL is pretty cool,” said Jones. “I never thought I would get that. Hopefully there’s more to come.”

Jones one-timed a pass from linemate Joe Colborne past New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider at 6:09 of the second period for his team-leading seventh goal. It was also the first time Jones has scored this season during a win for Calgary.

“It’s certainly nice to get it against those guys and get a win,” said Jones, who now has goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season. “I know throughout my whole career, once you get a hot stick, you just try and put everything on the net. I’m a little streaky that way. I’m sure I’ll go some games without scoring, but I’m relishing this opportunity that the puck’s going in right now.”

Jones’s linemates also had two points each as Matt Stajan finished with a goal and an assist, while Colborne set up two goals.

“When you do the right things out there, the hockey gods take care of you,” said Calgary coach Bob Hartley, who was pleased with the trio’s play.

TJ Brodie also scored for the Flames (7-12-1), who stretched their winning streak against the Devils to six straight games dating back to Jan. 10, 2012.

Making his ninth straight start in net for Calgary, Ramo stopped 18-of-20 shots he faced to improve his record to 5-7-0.

Bobby Farnham and Jordin Tootoo scored for the Devils (10-7-1), while Schneider finished with 27 saves.

Ramo made a couple of early stops to turn aside scoring attempts by New Jersey forwards Mike Cammalleri and Adam Henrique, before making a save with his mask to prevent Kyle Palmeiri’s wrist shot from going into the net.

“I thought we had some real quality chances early in the game before they made it 1-0 that we didn’t capitalize on and then we had some real good pushes late that we weren’t able to finish.,” said New Jersey coach John Hynes.

The Flames opened the scoring at 10:04 of the first when Brodie took a tape-to-tape pass from Johnny Gaudreau in the high slot and used his speed to get around New Jersey forward Lee Stempniak before firing a sharp-angle shot to the top corner in behind Schneider.

“I was stunned that went in,” said Schneider. “It literally hit me and I turned to watch it go wide. Sometimes it gets caught up in your jersey there and pulls it in. Again, it was a shot I should have stopped and thought I stopped.”

Stajan had his first goal of the season a short time later at 13:33 when he drove hard to the net to swat a rebound past Schneider.

Farnham scored for the Devils at 4:01 of the second period when he shovelled a loose puck in the crease past Ramo before Jones answered right back for the Flames at 6:09.

New Jersey pulled within a goal at 8:06 of the second when Tootoo fired a shot from the slot to the top corner over Ramo’s blocker during a New Jersey power play.

Brodie had one of the best scoring chances for either team in the third period, but Schneider made a nice glove save to stop the breakaway opportunity.