Can the Devils' Second Period Surge at Nationwide Arena Spark a Winning Streak?
The New Jersey Devils, with a record of 4-1, faced off against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who held a 1-4 record. The final score read 4-1 in favor of the visiting team.
In what was an impressive display of mid-game dominance, the New Jersey Devils took control in the second period after a goalless first. The Devils found their rhythm and netted four goals in quick succession, leaving the Blue Jackets scrambling to respond. The offensive surge was backed by solid defense and goaltending as they blocked 19 shots and their goalie saved all but one of the 30 shots he faced throughout the game.
The Devils' performance on faceoffs was particularly noteworthy; they won 34 out of 53 faceoffs which translated into a dominant faceoff win percentage of 64 percent. This control over puck possession contributed significantly to their victory. Moreover, despite having four powerplay opportunities where they fired six shots on goal, they did not manage to convert any into scores but maintained pressure on Columbus's defense.
On special teams play, while both teams failed to capitalize on powerplay chances with zero goals from these situations for each side, it was evident that New Jersey's discipline played a key role as they only incurred three penalties totaling six penalty minutes compared to Columbus's eight.
The home team managed just one goal early in the game which came at even strength. Despite this early lead and delivering more hits than their opponents with a total count of 24 hits compared to New Jersey's 11 hits, Columbus could not maintain momentum or effectively penetrate New Jersey’s defensive setup for additional scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead for fans of the New Jersey Devils is another chance to cheer on their team when they host Dallas Stars at Prudential Center in Newark. This matchup is scheduled for January 21st and will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN+ as well as locally via MSGSN channel number 635 and BSSW channel number 676 for away fans wishing to follow along.