Columbus Blue Jackets Secure Victory
In a commanding performance, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured their sixth consecutive victory by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Tuesday night in Newark. A key contributor to this success was Mathieu Olivier, who netted two pivotal goals in the third period. Furthermore, goalie Elvis Merzlikins delivered a stellar performance, recording 23 saves for his first shutout of the season.
Key Moments of the Game
Columbus welcomed Dante Fabbro back to the lineup after he missed six games due to a lower-body injury. Fabbro made an immediate impact by scoring his fourth goal of the season just 5:24 into the third period, breaking a scoreless tie with a powerful wrist shot from the top of the left circle that found its way past New Jersey goalie Jakob Markstrom.
Olivier’s first goal came as he showcased skill on a breakaway, thanks to a perfect pass from Cole Sillinger that allowed him to get behind the Devils’ defense. He executed a deft move, shifting to his backhand and sliding the puck past Markstrom at the 12:05 mark of the third to extend Columbus’s lead to 2-0. Olivier capped off the night with an empty-net goal four minutes before the final buzzer, following a narrow miss from New Jersey’s Nico Hischer, who hit the post on a close chance.
The matchup was initially punctuated by a disallowed goal from Columbus in the first period. Danton Heinen appeared to find the net, but the officials ruled that teammate Miles Wood had interfered with Markstrom’s attempt to make the save, following a coach’s challenge from New Jersey.
The New Jersey goalie Markstrom ultimately made 22 saves in a losing effort.
Other NHL Highlights
Elsewhere in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes outlasted the Ottawa Senators 4-3 as Jordan Staal netted the decisive goal with five minutes remaining. Seth Jarvis scored a pair of goals for Carolina, while Sebastian Aho added another, contributing to their victory despite a mid-game fight back from Ottawa, who had momentarily pulled even after scoring two power-play goals.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the Washington Capitals 4-2. Jamie Drysdale returned to the scoring sheet, netting a power-play goal that maintained the Flyers’ advantage. Goalie Dan Vladar was crucial, stopping 26 shots, including key stops against the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin.
The Tampa Bay Lightning triumphed over the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in dramatic fashion, with Jake Guentzel scoring the overtime winner after Darren Raddysh had equalized late in regulation. Tampa Bay’s star, Nikita Kucherov, was instrumental with a goal and three assists.
Moreover, the New York Islanders eked out a 5-4 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Bo Horvat scoring the game-winner in overtime. The contest featured several lead changes and showcased impressive performances from both teams, highlighting the tight competition in the league.
Finally, the Toronto Maple Leafs continued their winning streak, overcoming the Edmonton Oilers 5-2, thanks to a two-goal effort from Matias Maccelli and solid goalkeeping from Anthony Stolarz, who recorded an impressive 34 saves. The Maple Leafs showcased their power play, capitalizing on key Edmonton penalties to secure their third consecutive win.
