New Jersey Devils @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Season 25 Game 3

First and foremost, happy 25th season to the Columbus Blue Jackets as they play their first home game of the season tonight!

After an electric 7-4 win at the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, the Blue Jackets would look to double their points with a win in their first home game of the franchise's 25th season. After the festivities of introducing the current team, but puck would drop, and the Blue Jackets would have an outstanding offensive push throughout the opening period, ending up with 19 total shots that made it to Jake Allen and the Devils' net. This was in comparison to just 8 shots, which made it to Jet Greaves in the Blue Jackets' home net. That said, two problems would arise in this period for the Blue Jackets: the first would take Miles Wood out of the game. The Stick of Devils' Doughie Hamilton would slide under the shield protecting Miles Wood, resulting in blood and a quick exit from the ice. The Blue Jackets' 4-minute power play would amount to no score. The same couldn't be said for the Devils, who scored by way of Timo Meier at 15:47 while Adam Fantilli was in the box due to a 2-minute hooking call. This would be Timo Meier's second goal of the season. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt would each add their second assists of the season on this opening goal. This was the Devils' only chance on the power play for the first 20 minutes, but that's all they'd need to gain a one-goal advantage, which they'd carry into the second period. 

Kirill Marchenko had a hat-trick in Minnesota, the fourth in his young career, and tonight in Period 2, he'd tack on his fourth goal of the season at 8:49. The goal would be all his own, no assists. He had an impressive season last year, so this shouldn't be surprising, but it's always fun to see a player who works so hard have repeat success. Unfortunately, the 1-1 tie at home wouldn't last long. The Blue Jackets would lose Cole Sillinger for 2 minutes after he was called for hooking. They'd narrowly miss killing the penalty and getting Sillinger back, but the Devils' Dawson Mercer had the first goal of his season on his mind. That goal would come at 11:00, and it would give  Arseny Gritsyuk his third assist this season on the primary, while teammate Ondrej Palat would add his first of the season with the secondary. The Blue Jackets wouldn't be able to match the Devils' second goal tonight in Period 2, allowing the Devils to maintain a one-goal lead ahead of Period 3. 

For some reason, the Devils would switch goalies after period 2. Jake Allen wouldn't be seen with the team for the last twenty minutes of play. So, backup Jacob Markstrom would come into the game. The Blue Jackets would continue their push, but things weren't clicking tonight. Time would tick away, and Dawson Mercer would have his second goal of the night and his third goal of the season at 19:03. The only assist on this Devils' third goal of the night would go to Nico Hischier, and it would become his second assist this season. It would look as if the Devils would leave with an easy 3-1 win, but Dimitri Voronkov would make things interesting as he'd score his second goal this season at 19:39! The only assist on this goal would become Ivan Provorov's first of the season. Sadly, the Blue Jackets couldn't find another in the last 00:21, and they'd ultimately lose their first home game of the season to the New Jersey Devils, 3-2. 

Obviously, this wasn't the home opener this team wanted. I'm not Dean Evanson, and I would never tell him how to do his job because I think he's a great Head Coach here in Columbus. That said, if I were him, passing and penalty kills/avoiding penalties would be first on my list for the next team practice. Special Teams has been an issue before, and this team has too much promise to let that be what spoils the season so early. The New Jersey Devils had a perfect night on the power play with two chances and two goals. The New Jersey Devils also kept the Columbus Blue Jackets from scoring on the five power plays they gave them. There are 70 games left, but it's games like this that are lost by such a close margin and simple mistakes that could cost you the postseason in the end. Last season, it was two points; one loss turned to a win would've gotten us in, and I don't want to be done writing in April again; this team is too good.

With a goal tonight, the first of the game, Timo Meier would get the Third Star of the Game tonight. 

Kirill Marchenko keeps racking up the accolades early this season, scoring his fourth goal in two games. This would give him the Second Star of the Game tonight. 

No surprise, but with two of the three goals tonight, the Devils' Dawson Mercer would capture the First Star of the Game tonight 

On a high note, Jet Greaves had a great night in net. He'd deny 27 of the Devils' 25 shots on his home net. This would give him a .926 save percentage.  

Our next chance for points will be on Thursday night when we welcome a solid Colorado Avalanche team, with a 3-0-1 record, to Nationwide Arena. The game will start at 7:00 pm. With any luck, Miles Wood will be okay after his injury tonight in Period 1, and he'll be back in the lineup. Also, I really hope we know what is going on with key defenseman Erik Gudbranson, who is on IR indefinitely after a hit in the Wild game Saturday. No injury has been disclosed, and after not seeing him tonight, I'm getting a bit anxious regarding his health after his shoulder surgery and lengthy rehab last season. I wish Wood and Goodbranson a quick return to the ice. 

Go CBJ!