In an exciting clash held in Columbus, Ohio, the New Jersey Devils triumphed over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a narrow 2-1 victory on Monday night. The Devils’ performance was bolstered by timely goals from Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, who scored in rapid succession during the second period.
Goalie Jake Allen was a standout for the Devils, achieving a season-high of 45 saves and improving his record to 12-13-1. Meanwhile, Mathieu Olivier was the sole scorer for the Blue Jackets, and goalie Jet Greaves logged 18 saves, bringing his record to 2-2-2 over six starts.
The scoring for New Jersey began with Meier, who broke the deadlock with 6:25 remaining in the second period. Displaying impressive speed and control, he maneuvered through the neutral zone, darted along the left side past two defenders, and ultimately let off a backhand shot, successfully slipping the puck through Greaves’ legs. This marked Meier’s 20th goal of the season and added to his tally for the month.
Bratt followed Meier’s lead shortly thereafter. Less than a minute later, he capitalized on a mistake by Greaves, who misplayed a dump-in from Brian Dumoulin. With the puck bouncing out to him near the right side, Bratt seized the opportunity and increased the Devils’ lead by scoring his own 20th goal of the season from a sharp angle.
Columbus countered with a late game push, as Olivier managed to break Allen’s hopes of a shutout by netting a goal with 6:36 left in the third period, nudging in a loose puck in front of the net.
The Devils’ recent victory marks their fourth win out of their last five games, solidifying their strong hold on the third position in the Metropolitan Division. On the contrary, the Columbus Blue Jackets have faced four consecutive losses, jeopardizing their playoff aspirational spot as they slip further behind in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. Notably, before Olivier’s goal, the team had been goalless for almost two full games, a stretch lasting 182 minutes and 55 seconds.
Another pivotal moment in the game came close to New Jersey’s rapid scoring spree in the second period. Jake Allen made a crucial save against Kent Johnson’s close-range wrist shot, preventing Columbus from taking an early lead.
In the game’s third period, Allen remained a defensive bulwark, accumulating 23 saves as the Devils were heavily outshot at 24-3.
Looking ahead, the Devils are set to host Calgary on Thursday, kicking off a three-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets will aim to utilize their home advantage when hosting Florida, concluding a sequence of four home games.
