Jesper Bratt scored the eventual game-winner as the New Jersey Devils edged the host Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Monday night.
Timo Meier also scored for New Jersey (37-26-6, 80 points), which has won four of five and improved to 20-15-2 on the road this season.
Jake Allen made 45 saves in the victory.
Mathieu Olivier responded for Columbus (31-28-8, 70 points), who have lost four straight games and six of seven. Jet Greaves stopped 18 shots.
New Jersey scored twice in 39 seconds in the second period to open a 2-0 lead.
Meier got the Devils on the board, powering around Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro and beating Greaves five-hole for his 20th of the season at 13:35. Meier has points in four straight (three goals, one assist).
New Jersey doubled its lead at 14:14 as Bratt capitalized off Greaves’ turnover behind the net and put his shot into the wide-open net for his 20th of the season. Bratt extended his point streak to four games (three goals, seven assists).
Columbus snapped a 182:55 shutout streak at 13:24 of the third period as Olivier batted in a loose puck for his 16th of the season.
Columbus out-shot New Jersey 8-5 in the opening 20 minutes, but the two clubs were scoreless after one period.
Bratt was named the NHL’s second star of the week on Monday after registering three consecutive three-point games (two goals, seven assists) and factoring in on seven consecutive New Jersey goals.
Erik Haula replaced Daniel Sprong in the Devils’ lineup in Columbus and finished with two shots on goal and a hit in 16:53 of ice time.
Monday was the third and final meeting of the season between the Blue Jackets and Devils. New Jersey picked up a 5-3 victory in Newark, N.J., last Tuesday, and the Blue Jackets doubled up the Devils 4-2 in the first meeting on Dec. 19.
–Field Level Media
