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
