New Jersey 4, Columbus 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees:
Brian Pochmara, Corey Syvret
Linesmen:
Kilian McNamara, Libor Suchanek
Attendance:
16514
By Field Level Media
Timo Meier scored 2:12 into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday in Newark, N.J.
Devils defenseman Luke Hughes weaved through the open ice and beat Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins to forge a 3-3 tie with 1:25 remaining in the third period.
In overtime, New Jersey took advantage of Kent Johnson fanning on a shot, allowing Meier to convert a breakaway for his ninth goal of the season and fourth in his past three games.
New Jersey's Dawson Mercer collected a goal and two assists and Ondrej Palat also tallied. Vitek Vanecek turned aside 26 shots for the Devils, who won the final two contests of their five-game homestand (2-2-1).
Justin Danforth, Yegor Chinakhov and defenseman Jake Bean each scored a goal and Merzlikins made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost eight of their past 11 games (3-5-3).
Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski sustained an apparent left leg injury after getting tangled up with Palat in the second period and did not return to the game.
Chinakhov poked the puck between the pads of Vanecek to give Columbus a 3-2 lead with 2:26 remaining in the third period. It was his 10th goal of the season.
Bean cleaned up a rebound following a shot from Alexandre Texier to open the scoring at 6:39 of the first period. Bean's goal was his second of the season.
Palat forged a 1-1 tie at 9:55 of the first period after converting a tic-tac-toe passing sequence involving Mercer and Erik Haula. Palat's goal was his fifth of the season and first since Dec. 7.
David Jiricek's shot from the point was deflected home by Danforth to give Columbus a 2-1 lead at 8:28 of the second period. Danforth's goal was his ninth of the season and second in as many games.
Mercer's one-timer from the high slot beat Merzlikins to knot the game at 2-2 with 4:09 remaining in the third period. Mercer's goal was his ninth of the season and second in three games.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Columbus |
|
New Jersey |
|
Jake Bean 1 |
Points |
Dawson Mercer 3 |
|
Jake Bean 1 |
Goals |
Dawson Mercer 1 |
|
Adam Fantilli 1 |
Assists |
Dawson Mercer 2 |
|
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Elvis Merzlikins .886 |
Save Percentage |
Vitek Vanecek .897 |
|
Elvis Merzlikins 31 |
Saves |
Vitek Vanecek 26 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Columbus
|
29 |
3 |
0-3 |
3-3 |
6 |
28 |
| New Jersey
|
35 |
4 |
0-3 |
3-3 |
6 |
30 |
Upcoming Games
-
New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Ottawa. The Devils have a W/L % of .556 after a win and .533 after a loss.
-
Columbus will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .167 after a win and .375 after a loss.
For more information, contact us