In Newark the Devils puts up the extra point in a 7-1 thrashing of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday afternoon.
“This win shows character,” the Devils’ Nico Hischier said. “We beat a great team on Friday (1-0 against the Colorado Avalanche) and then put it behind us. If we win, we can’t get too high, and if we lose, we can’t get too low. You need to have this consistency. We came out to play today, it was an all-around fun game, every line played well, and [Columbus] didn’t have much.”
Vitek Vanecek made 20 saves in the win.
Jesper Bratt and Hischier each had a goal in the win.
New Jersey’s Fabian Zetterlund scored in the first period to give them a 1-0 lead.
Hischier pushed the lead to 2-0 early in the middle frame, and Ryan Graves scored 33 seconds later for a 3-0 lead and the route was on.
“I want to improve as a player every year but, for me, I just want to focus on my two-way game and help the team in any way I can,” said Hischier. “If not on a scoresheet, I try to help defensively.”
Columbus’ lone striker was Yegor Chinakhov who made the 3-1 in the second.
“Teams go through these things and we have a good team here,” Columbus’ Johnny Gaudreau said. “This is a low for us. We have to come together and fight through this.”
John Marino scored for New Jersey with 22 seconds left in the second for a 4-1 advantage.
New Jersey added three more in the third period including goals from Jonas Siegenthaler (power-play) and Bratt for a 6-1 lead.
Miles Wood added a late goal for the 7-1 final.
Elvis Merzlikins made 46 saves in the Blue Jackets loss.
“Elvis battled right to the end, but that was pretty ugly,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. “This was a tough one to watch. I own this. We’ve got to get back to the root of the problem, so it’s on me. I have to get them better prepared.”
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