Columbus @ New Jersey preview
Prudential Center
Last Meeting ( Dec 16, 2023 ) New Jersey 6, Columbus 3
The New Jersey Devils snapped a three-game winless skid with a victory prior to their holiday break.
The Devils aim to follow that up with another win Wednesday when they conclude their five-game homestand against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Newark, N.J.
Timo Meier scored twice and Tyler Toffoli also tallied in New Jersey's 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Meier has recorded three goals in his last two games after mustering just five in his previous 23 to start the season.
"It's kind of like the good old ketchup bottle effect," Meier said. "It feels really good to get the win."
Coach Lindy Ruff credited Meier, as well as his linemates Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer, for their contributions on Saturday. The Devils' third line registered nine shots on goal and finished with a plus-5 rating.
"It's great to see," Ruff said. "Timo's fighting hard to get back to form and these last couple of games he's been skating well, is physical. If not for that line, we probably don't get back in the game, but they set the tone for us. We know what Timo can do and maybe this is a springboard for him."
Toffoli's tally on Saturday served as just his second goal and third point this month. He collected a goal and an assist on Dec. 16 in New Jersey's 6-3 victory in Columbus, a game best remembered for Jack Hughes recording his second career hat trick.
The Blue Jackets' loss in that game is part of a dismal 3-5-2 stretch. They limped into the holiday break on the heels of a 3-2 overtime setback to the Washington Capitals on Thursday and a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
"Once we started to play north, we were a much better team," Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said after the loss to the Maple Leafs. "What we're going to learn from that game is how we're going to manage the puck against a team like Toronto."
Justin Danforth scored a goal just 22 seconds into the second period on Saturday. He also notched an assist on Eric Robinson's goal late in the first period of the Blue Jackets' 2-1 victory over the Devils on Nov. 24 in Newark, N.J.
Rookie Adam Fantilli, 19, continued his hot stretch by setting up Danforth's goal on Saturday. The third overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft has five goals and five assists in 11 games this month.
"Obviously, I'm not at the point where I can be where I want to be yet, but I think getting that experience, getting that exposure (against opponent's top lines) is a good learning experience," Fantilli said recently.
"I'm doing my best out there. None of my mistakes will ever be because of a lack of work ethic. I'm going to be trying my best. Sometimes I won't have the best night, but that's the way it is in the NHL. You're playing against the best players in the world, and I really enjoy the challenge."
--Field Level Media