A tough loss wraps up a 1-3-0 road trip.
Jesper Bratt had a three-point night and the New Jersey Devils scored three first-period goals to dismantle the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Tuesday night at Prudential Center.
Jakob Markstrom made 17 saves on 20 shots while Elvis Merzlikins made 23 saves on 28 shots.
Bad Start
Looking to pick up where things left off with Sunday's 7-3 win at the New York Rangers, the Jackets didn't get off to such a swell start Tuesday night in New Jersey.
Three first-period goals by Nick Hischier, Paul Cotter, and Bratt gave the Devils a 3-0 lead through the first 20 minutes. Hischier had his 27th on the power play at 6:37 with Bratt getting his team-leading 54th assist and Luke Hughes his 25th. Cotter's 14th at 10:49 was unassisted. Bratt's (18) tally came at 18:51 with recent trade deadline acquisition Cody Glass getting his 12th helper.
Comeback Bid
The Blue Jackets came into the night sixth in the league with 73 second-period goals while the Devils came in fourth with 78.
Columbus did their part to start the comeback with Mathieu Olivier's 14th at 3:30 of the second period. Denton Mateychuk (3) and Kent Johnson (24) assisted. Johnson has points in eight of his last nine games (five goals, five assists). Since Jan. 20, he's gone just two games without a point and has 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) since Jan. 1.
Olivier's 14th and it's a 3-1 game. Mateychuk (3) and KJ (24) with the assists! pic.twitter.com/vHRJ4RYv05 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 12, 2025
Kirill Marchenko (25) pulled the Jackets to within one goal to make it 3-2 at 7:16 with Adam Fantilli (21) and Zach Werenski (49) getting the assists. Fantilli is second on the team with 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) since Jan. 1, three points ahead of Kent Johnson and two points behind Zach Werenski (nine goals, 20 assists) in that span.
oh baby check out this one - Marchenko (25) from Fantilli (21) and Werenski (49) #CBJ pic.twitter.com/cHL1KlwHMl
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 12, 2025
New Jersey would get one back with Timo Meier's 18th at 16:49, from Stefan Noesen (15) and Brian Dumoulin (15), to break up the momentum.
After that second period, Columbus is tied for fifth with 75 goals in the second period along with New Jersey and the Florida Panthers.
Just not Enough
It was not meant to be.
Obviously, the Jackets simply needed a better performance as the 3-0 hole made the climb back that much tougher, even though they had things within a goal in the second period.
Down two entering the third period, and still with a chance, Luke Hughes all but ended that with his sixth goal 26 seconds in. Glass picked up his second assist (13) and Bratt completed his three-point night in getting his third assist (55).
The red-hot Olivier did make things a tad more interesting with his second of the evening and fifth in the last seven games at 10:29. Boone Jenner picked up his ninth assist.
Oliver's previous career high in goals was five in 2022-23 and 2023-24. With 15 goals on the season and 18 games remaining, he has a shot to be the sixth member of the team with at least 20 goals. The Jackets have already set a franchise record with five skaters at the 20-goal mark.
Olivier's career-high was five goals. He's now at 15. Jenner gets his ninth assist. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/wVgfwuQdZQ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 12, 2025
Instead of being within two points of the Devils and third place in the Metropolitan Division, they're six points back and holding onto the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot by a narrow two-point margin over the Montreal Canadiens, Rangers, and Boston Bruins.
Columbus was 0-for-3 on the power play while the Devils were 1-for-5.
Back Home
The Blue Jackets return home to entertain the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 7 p.m. ET.
