Devils Go Cold in Third, Shut Out by Blue Jackets in Final Meeting of Season
The New Jersey Devils had a chance to close out their season series against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a win on home ice. Instead, they ran out of gas when it mattered most. After two periods of competitive, if scoreless, hockey, the Devils unraveled in the third, falling 3-0 and allowing Columbus to even the season series at two games apiece.
Let’s break down what went wrong for New Jersey-and what it means moving forward.
Devils Fade Late, Blue Jackets Take Over
For 40 minutes, the Devils looked like a team poised to take control. They outshot the Blue Jackets 17-12 through the first two periods, showing signs of offensive intent and zone control. But as has been the case too often this season, that effort didn’t translate to the scoreboard-and it didn’t hold up.
The third period told a different story. Columbus came out with more urgency, outshooting the Devils 13-7 and cashing in with three goals in the final frame.
It wasn’t just a momentum shift-it was a complete reversal of control. The Blue Jackets looked fresher, sharper, and more opportunistic, while the Devils couldn’t match the pace or execution down the stretch.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged the strong start but didn’t sugarcoat the finish. “I thought we did a lot of good things in the first couple periods, the first period especially,” Keefe said postgame.
“It put us in the position to take care of the game. We’ve got to make some plays.
We’ve got to generate some offense.”
Keefe emphasized the need for his team to stop “wilting” late in games-a pointed critique of a recurring issue. He’s clearly trying to build up his group’s confidence, but the Devils will need more than pep talks to solve their third-period woes.
Connor Brown Logs Big Minutes, But First Line Comes Up Empty
One of the more notable lineup changes saw Connor Brown elevated to the top line alongside Timo Meier and Cody Glass. With Jack Hughes still out, the Devils turned to Brown to help drive offense-and he certainly got the opportunity.
Brown led all Devils forwards in ice time with 24:10, trailing only goaltender Jacob Markstrom in total minutes. That’s nearly three full minutes more than Nico Hischier, the next closest forward.
He also took 25 shifts-again, the most among Devils skaters-and fired two shots on goal. But like the rest of the team, he couldn’t find the back of the net.
This was Brown’s heaviest workload of the season, and while he didn’t register a point, his hustle didn’t go unnoticed. He was active, involved, and showed he can handle top-line minutes. The chemistry with Meier and Glass didn’t quite click in this one, but it’s something the coaching staff may revisit depending on Hughes’ status and upcoming matchups.
Special Teams: A Mixed Bag
New Jersey’s penalty kill held firm, stopping all three of Columbus’ power-play opportunities. That’s the good news.
The bad? The Devils came up empty on four power plays of their own-a missed opportunity in a game where scoring was at a premium.
The Devils currently sit middle of the pack in both special teams categories-15th on the power play (21%) and 19th on the penalty kill (78.9%). Those numbers reflect a team that’s capable but inconsistent. Against Columbus, the inability to generate high-danger chances with the man advantage was a major factor in the shutout loss.
Power plays are supposed to tilt the ice, especially in tight games. But the Devils couldn’t capitalize, and that’s something they’ll need to address quickly with the Olympic break looming.
What’s Next
The Devils have one more shot to head into the break on a high note. They’ll host the New York Islanders on Thursday in what will be both the final game before the Olympic pause and the last meeting between the two teams this season.
After a frustrating night against Columbus, the Devils have to regroup-and fast. The effort was there early, but the execution and resilience weren’t. If they want to stay in the mix down the stretch, they’ll need to find a way to finish games with the same energy they start them.