The New Jersey Devils conclude a season-opening three-game street journey after they go to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday evening.
The Devils break up the primary two video games, dropping on the Carolina Hurricanes of their opener earlier than posting a 5-3 win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Columbus performs its dwelling opener after dropping 2-1 at Nashville earlier than beating the Minnesota Wild 7-4 on Saturday.
Connor Brown, who signed a four-year contract with New Jersey in July after enjoying the previous two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, scored twice for the Devils in opposition to the Lightning.
“It is clearly good to contribute early within the season,” Brown mentioned. “I believed it was two nice performs by (linemate Arseni Gritsyuk). I believed we had some good chemistry … me, him and (linemate Cody Glass), so it was a enjoyable evening.”
Nico Hischier and Timo Meier every had a aim and help, whereas Luke Hughes and Gritsyuk every had two assists for the Devils. Jacob Markstrom made 14 saves. Hughes has tallied 4 assists in two video games.
New Jersey jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held off a Tampa Bay rally that reduce it to 3-2.
“Actually good begin, good effort from our guys to take a maintain of the sport and you recognize Tampa goes to have their seems to be and have a push,” mentioned Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “The way in which we got here out within the third interval…there’s so many issues that might’ve gone actual unhealthy for us immediately. The blokes simply dug in.”
New Jersey performed with out ahead Evgenii Dadonov, who has a fracture in his hand after blocking a shot within the season opener. He’ll miss Monday evening’s recreation and will probably be evaluated as soon as the group returns dwelling.
In the meantime, Kirill Marchenko scored a hat trick and Elvis Merzlikins made 48 saves for the Blue Jackets in opposition to the Wild on Saturday.
Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner every had a aim and two assists. Jenner’s aim was the two hundredth of his NHL profession. Adam Fantilli additionally had a aim and an help for Columbus.
“We actually favored our composure,” mentioned Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason. “Possibly I did not maintain it in addition to the gamers did, however they did an actual good job of holding their composure, actually early in that hockey recreation once we may have gone sideways after they scored their first two.”
The 25-year-old Marchenko broke a 2-2 tie late within the second interval en path to his fourth NHL hat trick.
“I can rating extra. Simply shoot the puck,” Marchenko mentioned. “It is not likely laborious work. I simply work on my shot and my companions make nice passes too. And I attempt to do my greatest work.”
Werenski recorded his eightieth profession multipoint recreation, only one behind Jenner for the third-most in Blue Jackets historical past.
Columbus gained regardless of permitting 4 targets on eight Minnesota energy performs.
The Devils took two of three versus the Blue Jackets final season, together with a 2-1 win at Columbus on March 17.
–Discipline Stage Media