By Joe “Big Head” Coopersmith
GAME AT A GLANCE
THREE STARS 1st – N. Hischier, NJD (1-0-1); 2nd – V. Vanecek, NJD (stopped 29-of-30 shots faced, W); 3rd – C. Sillinger, CBJ (1-0-1)
GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: C. Sillinger (8)
New Jersey: J. Marino (3), A. Holtz (12), N. Hischier (12), N. Bastian (3)
GOALTENDERS
Columbus: E. Merzlikins (28 saves, L)
New Jersey: V. Vanecek (29 saves, W)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP: 0-for-3, no shots
New Jersey PP: 0-for-4, 6 shots
BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES
- The Blue Jackets have now recorded points in six of their last 10 games (3-4-3) and 15 of the past 26 contests (10-11-5) following tonight’s loss to the Devils.
- CBJ moved to 16-7-2 in the last 25 games in the series vs. New Jersey since Mar. 5, 2017.
- Columbus (1-2-1) and New Jersey (3-1-0) finished the season series.
- The winning team in the series has recorded four-plus goals in seven of the last nine games.
- The Blue Jackets scored the first goal of the game tonight and have now scored the first goal in 14 of the past 26 games.
- The club scored its lone goal in the first period tonight and have now scored 45 first period goals this season.
- CBJ have been held to less than two goals in just four of their past 19 contests since Dec. 5, including tonight.
- Columbus blocked 20 shots tonight and has been credited with 617 blocked shots over the past 34 contests dating back to Nov. 6 and 826 in 45 games this season.
- CBJ played their sixth of eight Friday games this season, falling for the first time on the day this season after winning each of the first five contests.
- Tonight’s attendance was a sellout crowd of 18,630, marking the seventh sellout in the past nine games at Nationwide Arena dating back to December 16.
BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES
- C Cole Sillinger scored a goal to give him 5-1-6 in the past nine games and 7-2-9 in his last 13 contests (overall, 8-10-18 in 40 GP).
- RW Yegor Chinakhov registered an assist to give him points in two consecutive games (1-1-2) and now has 8-6-14 in the last 17 contests (overall, 11-8-19 in 34 GP). He improved to 4-1-5 in seven career games vs. the Devils, including points in his past three games against the club (2-1-3).
- LW Johnny Gaudreau recorded an assist to extend his assists streak to three-straight games (0-4-4). He has registered 3-11-14 in the last 15 games and 6-17-23 in his past 28 appearances since Nov. 18 (overall, 7-22-29 in 45 GP). He now has 7-19-26 against the Devils with points in 15 of 20 career games vs. New Jersey, including points in each of his last seven home contests 6-8-14 and in nine of 10 home games in his career (6-10-16).
BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS
HC Pascal Vincent | F Boone Jenner | F Cole Sillinger
DEVILS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS
HC Lindy Ruff | F Nico Hischier | F Alexander Holtz | D John Marino
BLUE JACKETS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, Jan. 20 No Practice
Sunday, Jan. 21 11am ET Practice – OhioHealth Ice Haus
Monday, Jan. 22 1pm MT Practice – Rogers Place
COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS
