Mathieu Olivier scored a pair of third-period goals and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped all 23 shots he faced, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
The win marked Columbus’s sixth straight and a strong performance ahead of the Olympic break.
Game Summary
After two scoreless periods, the Blue Jackets broke through in the third. Dante Fabbro, returning from a six-game absence due to a lower-body injury, opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the left circle at 5:24 for his fourth goal of the season.
Olivier followed with a highlight-reel breakaway goal at 12:05. Cole Sillinger found him behind the Devils’ defense, and Olivier finished with a slick backhand move to beat Jakob Markstrom, giving Columbus a 2-0 lead. He sealed the win with an empty-net goal just minutes later, shortly after Nico Hischier narrowly missed cutting the deficit by ringing a shot off the post.
Key Stats
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Merzlikins recorded his first shutout of the season, stopping all 23 shots for his 12th career shutout.
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Markstrom made 22 saves in the loss.
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The Blue Jackets had a goal waived off in the first period after Miles Wood interfered with Markstrom in the crease. The decision came after New Jersey’s successful coach’s challenge.
Notable Absences
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Devils center Jack Hughes missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury. While there was some hope for a return Thursday, the team remained cautious.
Takeaways
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Blue Jackets: With a healthy roster and strong team chemistry, Columbus continues to climb in form, riding a six-game win streak into the break.
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Devils: Despite outshooting the Blue Jackets early and creating chances, the offense couldn’t crack Merzlikins. The team is feeling the absence of key players like Jack Hughes.
What’s Next
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Columbus will host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night in their final game before the Olympic break.
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New Jersey returns to action Thursday, hosting the New York Islanders.
