In the third game in 4 nights for Columbus, the Blue Jackets welcomed the New Jersey Devils to town. The Devils, it can safely be stated, do not play an attractive brand of hockey. This affair promised to be a physical, grind it out matchup that would require the Union and Blue to make the most of their opportunities to come away with the victory.
In team news, the Blue Jackets would trot out Joonas Korpisalo to start the game in net. Justin Falk cleared waivers, David Clarkson resumed skating, and the team hoped to continue on its solid run of play recently.
Special stick taps to Brandon Dubinsky, who was scheduled to play in his 600th career NHL game tonight.
To the highlights!!
FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Your CBJ starters: Scott Hartnell, Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Saad, Ryan Murray, Seth Jones, Joonas Korpisalo
3 minutes, lots of rushes, no shots either way.
HARTNELL CHANCE but cannot bury it at 3:30.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! After a bit of a feeling out, Matt Calvert found Nick Foligno, who buried his th of the season at 5:20. Assist to Matt Calvert.
CHANCE!! The horn went off, but Wennberg’s chance was denied.
John Moore was the one who kept Wennberg’s chance out at 6:30.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! Nick Foligno again! Matt Calvert’s hustle led to a shot, and Foligno was able to redirect a rebound home at 8:12. Assists to Matt Calvert and William Karlsson.
FIGHT. Jordin Tootoo and Gregory Campbell went at it at 8:18.
Post for New Jersey. Adam Henrique hit the post.
Devils power play. The Blue Jackets would see Brandon Dubinsky go off for holding the stick at 10:14.
CAM ATKINSON DENIED SHORTHANDED AT 11:30
SAVE! Korpisalo at 12:30.
Devils power play. Nick Foligno went off for holding at 13:03.
The Jackets killed the penalty, allowing no chances.
Slow period. At the 13:00 mark, both teams had 5 shots on goal.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL. After a block by Ryan Murray, Matt Calvert led a rush up ice, and Brandon Saad was able to pot his 23rd of the season. KNEEL BEFORE SAAD.
At the end of the first period, Columbus led 3-0, outshooting New Jersey 10-5.
SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
Korpisalo save on Kyle Palmieri at 0:30.
Devils goal. Reid Boucher scored on a goal mouth pass from Travis Zajac at 1:38. Assists to Zajac and Damon Severson.
The Devils replaced Cory Schneider with Keith Kinkaid at the start of the period.
Kinkaid hung on and saved a Kerby Rychel shot at 3:15.
Korpisalo made a save on a near post shot at 4:30.
Devils power play. Brandon Dubinsky went off for boarding Palmieri at 4:38.
SAVE. Korpisalo denied the Devils on the doorstep at 5:15.
Lee Stempniak saw a shot go off the post at 6:30.
The Blue Jackets killed the penalty.
KORPISALO DIVING SAVE AT 6:45
Korpisalo carried the period for Columbus through the 8 minute mark. He had stood on his head and kept the deficit at 2 despite New Jersey outshooting Columbus 10-2.
Jack Johnson went to the locker room at 10:00. Not sure what happened.
After a turnover, Korpisalo denied the Devils at 10:30.
Devils goal waved off! The official ruled that Korpisalo was pushed in and that the whistle had blown at 12:15, and the goal did not count.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL!! Nick Foligno hat trick! The captain took the puck from John Moore and buried the backhanded at 13:32.
End to end action following Foligno’s goal, but no real chances for either side.
Jackets on the power play!! Joseph Blandesi went off for hooking at 17:38.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL!! Brandon Dubinsky on the power play makes it 5-1! He was found by Foligno with a backhand pass at 18:47. Assists to Foligno and Ryan Murray.
At the end of two, the score was 5-1 Columbus.
THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
No Jack Johnson to start the third period. He was out for the night with an upper body injury.
End to end action for the first 5 minutes, but no real chances for either side early in the third.
Devils power play. Dalton Prout tripped Jacob Josefson at 4:55.
William Karlsson forced a turnover shorthanded but fired his effort wide at 6:00.
The Blue Jackets killed the penalty.
Scott Hartnell denied on half break at 8:15.
David Savard leveled Jordin Tootoo. GOOD.
Blue Jackets on the power play! Brian Gionta went off at 9:22.
Karlsson saw a shot saved at 10:55.
The Devils killed the power play.
No real action to the 15 minute mark. Neither team pressed the advantage, clearly looking to end the game with no injuries to either side.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL! Rene Bourque scored on a breakaway at 18:59.
FINAL: Columbus Blue Jackets 6 New Jersey Devils 1
HUGS
THREE STARS
***William Karlsson
** Matt Calvert
*Nick Foligno
QUICK THOUGHTS
Joonas Korpisalo kept the Blue Jackets in the game early in the second as the Devils pressed hard.
Stellar night for Nick Foligno. He deserved each and every point.
Matt Calvert was a force all over the ice.
William Karlsson had a career night points scoring.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jackets next take on the Florida Panthers at home at Nationwide Arena. Faceoff is Saturday, February 27th at 3:00 PM EST. Win one for me on my birthday!