John Marino’s goal in the opening minute of the second period sparked a four-goal frame by the visiting New Jersey Devils, who beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Friday.
Alexander Holtz scored the game-winner and Nico Hischier and Nathan Bastian added goals later in the second for the Devils, who snapped a two-game losing streak and won for just the second time in the past six games (2-3-1).
New Jersey goalie Vitek Vanecek, who sat out the previous three games in favor of Nico Daws, made 29 saves.
Cole Sillinger scored on the first shot of the game for the Blue Jackets, who failed in a bid to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 22-24. Elvis Merzlikins recorded 28 saves while making his second straight start after a six-game benching that resulted in Merzlikins asking for a trade.
The Blue Jackets opened the scoring 4:21 after the opening faceoff thanks to a highlight-reel-worthy primary assist by Yegor Chinakhov. The forward sent a no-look pass to Sillinger through the legs of Devils defenseman Luke Hughes before Sillinger beat Vanecek.
Marino began the Devils’ barrage 28 seconds into the middle period. His shot from the high slot sailed past a screened Merzlikins, who had Columbus’ Damon Severson standing to his right while the Blue Jackets’ Adam Boqvist battled with New Jersey’s Tyler Toffoli to his left.
Holtz set up and finished the go-ahead goal a little over eight minutes later.
The right winger passed from the far side of the right faceoff circle to Cal Foote before darting to the front of the faceoff circle. Merzlikins leaned to his left in anticipation of a shot by Foote, but Foote instead passed to Holtz, who tucked the puck into the wide-open right corner of the net.
Hischier scored an unusual unassisted goal at 13:31. He shuffled the puck and briefly lost control as it glanced off the stick of Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke, but Hischier collected it and beat Merzlikins from above the left faceoff circle as the Devils’ Dawson Mercer moved into the shooting lane.
A turnover by the Blue Jackets led to Bastian’s goal just 72 seconds later. Kevin Bahl’s shot was redirected in by Bastian.
–Field Level Media
