Jesper Bratt collected a goal and two assists and defenseman Luke Hughes had one of each, fueling the New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday in Newark, N.J.
New Jersey’s Paul Cotter scored his career-high 14th goal and captain Nico Hischier and Timo Meier also tallied to send the Devils to their second straight win. Recent trade acquisition Cody Glass notched two assists and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves for New Jersey.
Columbus winger Mathieu Olivier scored twice to extend his career-high goal total to 15 on the season. Marchenko added his team-leading 25th goal and Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 23 shots for the Blue Jackets, who fell to 11-19-4 on the road this season.
Hischier extended his stick to deflect Bratt’s shot past Merzlikins to open the scoring 6:37 into the first period. It was Hischier’s 27th of the season, tying him for the team lead with the injured Jack Hughes.
A healthy scratch in his team’s last game, Cotter doubled the Devils’ advantage a little more than four minutes later. He bolted out of the penalty box and turned on the jets before tucking the puck between the pads of Merzlikins.
Bratt extended New Jersey’s lead to 3-0 with 1:09 remaining in the first period.
Glass’ lead pass caromed off the heel of the stick of Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski and right to Bratt, who alertly chipped the puck past Merzlikins. Bratt’s 18th goal of the season was his first since Feb. 8.
Olivier scored off a high tip 3:30 into the second period and Marchenko tallied nearly four minutes later to bring the Blue Jackets within a goal.
Meier, however, gave the Devils a 4-2 lead with 3:11 remaining in the second period on a wrist shot from the right circle that sailed inside the left post.
Luke Hughes’ shot from the above the left circle sailed past Merzlikins just 26 seconds into the third period and Olivier added his second of the game 10 minutes later.
–Field Level Media
