By Skip Coopersmith

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS 1^st – J. Hughes, NJD (3-0-3, GWG); 2^nd – J. Bratt, NJD (0-3-3); 3^rd – T. Toffoli, NJD (1-1-2)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: PP – K. Marchenko (10), Y. Chinakhov (8), A. Texier (6)

New Jersey: J. Hughes (12), E. Haula (8), T. Toffoli (13), PP – J. Hughes (13), N. Hischier (7), EN – J. Hughes (14)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: D. Tarasov (24 saves, L)
New Jersey: A. Schmid (23 saves, W)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP:  1-for-4, 4 shots
New Jersey PP:  1-for-2, 1 shot

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

• The Blue Jackets fell to 6-6-1 in the last 13 games overall and 4-3-1 in the last eight games at Nationwide Arena following tonight’s loss to the Devils.
• Columbus moved to 16-6-1 in the last 23 games of the series vs. New Jersey dating back to Mar. 5, 2017.
• The winning team in the series has scored four-plus goals in five of the past seven games.
• The club killed off one-of-two Devils’ power play opportunities tonight and has now killed off 55-of-64 opponent power play chances since Oct. 28 (85.9 pct.)
• The Blue Jackets converted on one-of-four power play opportunities tonight and are now seven-of-24 on the man advantage over the past 10 outings (29.2 pct.).
• Columbus blocked 15 shots tonight and has been credited with 402 blocked shots over the past 21 contests dating back to Nov. 6 and 611 in 32 games this season.
• CBJ rookies collected 0-3-3 tonight and have now posted 15-26-41 in 32 games this season.
• CBJ blueliners posted 0-2-2 tonight and have now combined for 0-9-9 in the past two games and 5-33-38 in the past 16 contests.
• The Blue Jackets played their seventh (2-5-0) of 21 Saturday games tonight.
• Tonight’s attendance was a sellout crowd of 18,172.

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES_­

• RW Yegor Chinakhov notched a goal for a career-high fourth-straight game (5-2-7) and has tallied 7-3-10 in the past 10 outings. At age 22, he is the youngest Blue Jackets player since 2014-15 to record a goal streak of at least four games – Ryan Johansen (5 GP at age 22) and Boone Jenner (4 GP at age 21) both did so that season.  With 8-4-12 in 21 games, he has set a new single-season career high in goals (previously seven goals in 62 GP in 2021-22).  The forward now has 3-0-3 in five career games against New Jersey, including goals in both of his career home appearances vs. the club.
• LW Johnny Gaudreau notched his 700^th career NHL point (236-464-700, 714 GP) with the assist on Marchenko’s second period goal, becoming the second-fastest active U.S.-born player to 700 points, behind Patrick Kane (696 GP). Overall, Gaudreau is one of eight players born in the U.S. to reach the milestone in fewer than 720 games. The forward has now collected points in two consecutive outings (1-1-2) and 4-7-11 in his last 15 games (overall, 5-12-17 in 32 GP). He improved to 7-18-25 with points in 14 of 18 career games vs. the Devils, including points in his past six home outings (6-7-13) and points in eight of his nine career contests at home (6-9-15).
• RW Kirill Marchenko scored a goal to give him 3-2-5 in his past six games and 6-3-9 in his last 13 contests (overall, 10-8-18 in 30 GP).
• D David Jiricek registered an assist in his second consecutive outing (0-3-3; overall, 1-7-8 in 27 GP).
• LW Dmitri Voronkov tallied an assist to give him 1-3-4 in his past four games and points in 15 of his first 26 NHL games (6-10-16).
• C Adam Fantilli recorded an assist and has now collected 3-3-6 in his past six games overall (8-9-17 in 32 GP).
• C Alexandre Texier scored a goal in the third period to give him 6-3-9 in 30 games this season.
• D Andrew Peeke registered the first assist on Chinakhov’s second period goal to give him 0-3-3 in nine appearances this season.

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Pascal Vincent | F Johnny Gaudreau | D Andrew Peeke | G Daniil Tarasov

DEVILS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Lindy Ruff | F Jesper Bratt | F Nico Hischier

BLUE JACKETS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Sunday, Dec. 17                       No Practice

Monday, Dec. 18                     12pm ET Practice – Nationwide Arena

Tuesday, Dec. 19                     7pm ET at Buffalo Sabres – KeyBank Center

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS