New Jersey Devils @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2024-25 NHL Game 33

Remember how last game the Tampa Bay Lightning ran up the goal total on the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 before the visiting Jackets could score? Remember how they mounted a comeback but still lost that game 5-3? Well, tonight, at home against the New Jersey Devils, it was the Columbus Blue Jackets turn to run up the score first and keep it up! 

Period one saw just one goal, and it came from Ivan Provorov at 7:55. This would become his third goal of the season and give Zach Aston-Reese his seventh assist of the season and Mathieu Olivier his fifth assist of the season. Elvis Merzlikins would be a brick wall in the net, and the Jackets would be up 1-0 after the opening twenty-minute period. 

The real turning point would be when Elvis Merzlikins kept the Devils out of his net in period three and the Jackets added two more goals in period two! The first Jackets goal would come at 9:36 and be a powerplay goal for Zach Werenski; his eleventh goal this season. Kirill Marchenko would pick up his twenty-first assist this season with the primary while Sean Monahan picked up his seventeenth assist with the secondary. The second goal of the period, also for the Blue Jackets, would become the tenth goal of the season for Sean Monahan. Dimitri Voronkov would add his seventh assist this season with the primary assist while Kirill Marchenko would add his twenty-second with the secondary and second of the game. Going into period three the Jackets would hold a solid three-goal lead at 3-0. 

The Devils L. Hughes would spoil Merzlikins' shutout at 17:10 with his second goal of the season. Given the chaos before the net and Merzlikins' without a stick, I'm not surprised he scored, but it's sad to see Merzlikins lose his shutout with just 2:50 to go. This goal would have no assists, and the score would become 3-1 Jackets'. N. Hischier would add his seventeenth goal at 18:34, making this game too close for comfort at 3-2. J. Hughes would pick up his twenty-ninth assist of the season with the primary assist while his brother, J. Hughes, would add his eleventh with the secondary assist. But, then, have no fear, Monahan is here with his eleventh goal of the season and second of the night at 18:50! He'd pop it in the empty Devils net and we'd call this one a night. Jackets WIN 4-2!  

Tonight's big win against a hot Devils team wasn't today's only win. It's also now known that Dante Fabbro's keen collision in Tampa wasn't as nasty as it appeared on ice. Thank the hockey Gods! 

Kirill Marchenko with a 0-2-2 night would take home the Second Star of the Game tonight. 

Elvis Merzlikins would have 43 Saves on his net tonight on 41 Devils shots, giving him an outstanding .958 save percentage and the Second Star of the Game. "You guys (5th Line chanting his name in the final minutes of the game) saved my ass, I was exhausted," was his quote from the end, and I love it.  

And, no surprise, with a 2-1-3 night, Sean Monahan would clench the First Star of the Game tonight. 

Tonight was exhilarating. Everyone played their part. It's a 2-point victory (without overtime!) The Jackets will now hit the road to play the Philidelphia Flyers on the road Saturday. If you are watching the Tennessee at Ohio State game, I'll have a recap waiting for you. If you're not a football fan or just like hockey more, puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.!

GO CBJ!






  

 

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