In a game that saw them hanging on by a thread as the final horn sounded, the New Jersey Devils (37-26-6, 3rd Metropolitan) held off the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-28-8) 2-1. This was a game that had big Eastern Conference playoff implications on the line. Columbus knew they had to have the win, and they played like it but it just wasn’t enough.
First Period
Neither team found an advantage in the first few minutes of the game, exchanging goal-scoring opportunities at both ends but failing to generate off the rush. Jake Allen had to make a couple of quick saves in succession on Adam Fantilli and Dante Fabbro. On the other end, Jesper Bratt had a clean shot on Jet Greaves but skied it out of play.
Nico Hischier drew a holding call midway through the period to give the Devils their first power play of the night but the normally strong New Jersey power play was lifeless, turning the puck over multiple times and only generating one shot on goal.
Columbus almost made the Devils pay for that unsuccessful power play when Kirill Marchenko sent a wicked backhander on net, forcing Allen to make another quality save. Columbus kept the pressure on throughout that shift but the Devils got in shooting lanes and blocked every other scoring chance.
Neither team generated much in the late stages of the period, both squads held a strong defensive structure in the neutral zone that prevented zone entries and forced dump-in plays. Though the Devils left the ice disappointed that they didn’t put a goal on the board, they held Columbus to a seventh scoreless period in a row.
The Devils and Jackets played a relatively even first period, with New Jersey earning a 53.85 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 52.1 expected goal percentage (xG%) at five-on-five. Still, they only managed five shots on goal.
Second Period
Columbus controlled the pace of the game coming into the second period but the Devils continued to frustrate them, holding their defensive structure and forcing mostly soft perimeter shots. Still, the Jackets were on the front foot offensively until Jesper Bratt nearly put the Devils on the board with a shot that rang the iron on a dangerous two-on-one play with Cody Glass.
Columbus went right back on the attack after that chance, putting dangerous pressure on the Devils’ end for multiple shifts. Marchenko had another good chance on this attack, testing Jake Allen yet again. The Devils continued to prod the Jackets’ defense and started to build momentum. Luke Hughes jumped in on the attack at the perfect moment, stunning Columbus and nearly scoring.
But it would be Timo Meier to finally score the first goal of the game with under ten minutes in the period as he picked up the puck in the neutral zone and used his speed and power to force his way to the net and score.
The Blue Jackets dug themselves a deeper hole when Jet Greaves made a boneheaded play behind the net, giving Jesper Bratt a wide-open net to score on with five minutes left in the period. It was an unfortunate play that put the momentum firmly in New Jersey’s hands. Columbus attempted to fight back late in the period but the Devils played conservatively and took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
Columbus had a higher shot volume in the second period, outchancing the Devils’ 42.5 CF% but in reality, the period was more even than that with New Jersey earning a 49.02 xGF%. All they had to do was get a chance with the red-hot Timo Meier and a bit of puck luck to capitalize and go up 2-0.
Third Period
The Blue Jackets came out swinging in the third period, putting the Devils under siege in the defensive zone. To their credit, the Devils’ defense held firm under pressure for most of the period but couldn’t find a way to clear the zone or keep Columbus from entering. The Jackets almost scored countless times and it was Jake Allen who kept the Devils in the game.
Columbus finally broke through to break their eight-period-long goalless streak midway through the period as Mathieu Olivier buried a slick feed from Zach Aston-Reese in front of a helpless Allen.
They kept the pressure on, holding the Devils out of the neutral zone for shifts on end. Without some of their key stamina guys in Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler, the Devils’ top guys had to hold it together through the final minutes. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt pulled a couple of extended shifts while forcing much-needed dump-in plays. The Blue Jackets went for a final-stand with the net empty and nearly tied it in the game’s dying seconds but the Devils were saved by the buzzer, securing the 2-1.
Columbus utterly dominated the third period, with the Devils notching a 12.5 CF% and an 8.32 xG%. Despite playing mediocre hockey the first two periods, it’s a miracle Columbus didn’t score at least three goals in the third.
Results
Coming off a blowout against the Penguins, last night was a much-needed win for the Devils. Not only because it got them back in the win column but because it was a game the Devils really shouldn’t have won. The Jackets notched 46 shots compared to New Jersey’s 20.
Great goaltending is great to have but last night’s style of play, especially in the third period, was unsustainable. Still, good teams need to find ways to win those kinds of games to get hot going into the postseason.
Game Notes
- Jake Allen was a stud last night, stopping 45-of-46 shots for a .978 SV% and earning 3.77 goals saved above expected (GSAx). With Markstrom struggling coming back from injury and head coach Sheldon Keefe admitting that he’s still ramping up, performances like this from Allen could solidify him as the number-one goalie in the coming games.
- Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt both scored their 20th goals of the season in quick succession in the second period. Timo Meier stayed hot with his fifth goal of the month and fourth point in his last four games. Jesper Bratt is even hotter with his goal marking his 10th point in his last four games. Bratt has seamlessly taken over Jack Hughes’ workhorse production in his absence.
- The playoff implications of last night’s win are massive. The Devils gave themselves more cushion against the Rangers in the division, a comfortable six-point gap now.
Up Next
The Devils will come home to play the Calgary Flames on Thursday at 7:00 pm ET.