The New Jersey Devils conclude a season-opening three-game highway journey once they go to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday evening.
The Devils break up the primary two video games, shedding 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 residence opener after shedding 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 stated. “I assumed it was two nice performs by (linemate Arseni Gritsyuk). I assumed 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 purpose 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 minimize 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,” stated Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “The best way we got here out within the third interval…there’s so many issues that would’ve gone actual dangerous 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 sport and shall be evaluated as soon as the workforce returns residence.
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 purpose and two assists. Jenner’s purpose was the 2 hundredth of his NHL profession. Adam Fantilli additionally had a purpose and an help for Columbus.
“We actually favored our composure,” stated 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, definitely early in that hockey sport after we might have gone sideways once 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 stated. “It is not likely exhausting work. I simply work on my shot and my companions make nice passes too. And I attempt to do my finest work.”
Werenski recorded his eightieth profession multipoint sport, only one behind Jenner for the third-most in Blue Jackets historical past.
Columbus gained regardless of permitting 4 objectives 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
