The Columbus Blue Jackets showed some serious resilience Monday night, storming back from an early 2-0 hole to take down the New Jersey Devils 5-3. It was a game that started off looking like trouble for Columbus but turned into a statement win - and Sean Monahan was right in the middle of it.
Monahan found the back of the net twice, including a crucial power-play goal in the third period that helped seal the deal. That marker, a clean wrist shot at 7:14 of the final frame, gave the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead and capped off a stretch of four unanswered goals.
The assist came from Isac Lundestrom, but the finish? All Monahan - cool, clinical, and right when Columbus needed it most.
Charlie Coyle also had himself a night. He not only buried the go-ahead goal early in the third but chipped in two assists as well, driving the offense with poise and purpose. His goal at 6:40 of the third was the turning point, giving Columbus its first lead of the game and shifting momentum firmly in their favor.
Miles Wood added a goal and an assist against his former team, and rookie defenseman Denton Mateychuk got in on the action as well, lighting the lamp in a game that showcased Columbus' depth up and down the lineup. Zach Werenski quietly had a strong night too, notching two assists from the blue line and helping quarterback the transition game.
In net, Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 30 shots. After giving up two quick ones in the opening minutes, he settled in and gave his team exactly what they needed: stability. From the second period on, Merzlikins was locked in, frustrating New Jersey’s top scorers and keeping the game within reach until the offense could get rolling.
For the Devils, it was a fast start but a frustrating finish. Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat, and Timo Meier all scored in the first 23 minutes, with Jesper Bratt picking up a pair of assists and Hischier adding one of his own. But that early surge fizzled out as Columbus took control of the puck - and the scoreboard.
New Jersey goalie Jake Allen stopped 19 shots, but the Devils couldn’t slow down a Blue Jackets team that won a commanding 62.3% of the faceoffs. That edge in the dot translated to extended zone time and more chances, especially in the second and third periods when the tide turned.
Up next, the Blue Jackets will look to build on this comeback win when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. The Devils, meanwhile, return home to face the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, hoping to regroup after letting this one slip away.