Sean Monahan tallied two goals and an assist. At the same time, Elvis Merzlikins delivered a stellar 40-save performance to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, snapping their five-game losing streak.
Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski also scored for Columbus, which has struggled recently, winning just twice in its last 10 games. Kirill Marchenko added two assists, hitting the 100-point milestone in his NHL career and extending his point streak to four games.
Monahan’s first goal extended Columbus’ lead to 3-0 in the second period, and his empty-netter with 1:10 left in the game secured the win.
Luke Hughes contributed a goal and an assist, Timo Meier scored, and Jake Allen made 16 saves for New Jersey, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.
Takeaways
Devils: Despite their status as the top team in the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey couldn’t overcome Columbus’ fast start. The Devils applied relentless pressure, registering 42 shots, but were stymied by Merzlikins.
Blue Jackets: Columbus, notorious for slow starts, came out with energy and aggression, scoring once in the first period and twice in the second to gain control. Their defense held firm against New Jersey’s late surge, a testament to their resilience.
Key Moment
Trailing 3-1, New Jersey pulled Allen with 5:32 left and managed to cut the deficit to one when Meier scored with 1:25 remaining. However, Monahan’s empty-net goal just 15 seconds later dashed hopes of a comeback.
Key Stat
Blue Jackets’ defensemen continue to lead the way offensively. Provorov’s goal marked the 22nd scored by Columbus defensemen this season, the most among NHL teams. Werenski’s assist extended his home point streak to 10 games, tying a franchise record.
Up Next
Both teams return to the ice on Saturday. The Devils host the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the Blue Jackets head to Philadelphia to face the Flyers.
