|
 Defenseman Justin Falk scored for the first time since Jan. 24, 2012
and set up a goal to record his first points of the season. Marko
Dano added his fourth goal of the season and Sergei Bobrovsky turned
aside 21 shots for the Blue Jackets, who posted their first victory
since a 2-1 triumph over Pittsburgh on Feb. 19.
Jordin Tootoo scored a power-play goal and Peter Harrold also
tallied for New Jersey, which fell to 6-2-1 in its last nine games.
Cory Schneider finished with 21 saves in his 200th career game as
the Devils remained eight points behind Boston in the race for the
second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Falk's wrist shot from the point beat a screened Schneider to open
the scoring 6:41 into the first period. Columbus doubled the
advantage 2:24 into the second after Elias' backhanded turnover in
the neutral zone resulted in Dubinsky's wrist shot beating Schneider
for his ninth goal.
[to top of second column] |
Adam Henrique's brilliant no-look pass found Tootoo on the doorstep
to trim the deficit exactly 3 1/2 minutes later, but Dano restored
the two-goal advantage at 9:14 after his blast sailed under the
crossbar. Harrold deked Falk and beat Bobrovsky inside the right
post to bring New Jersey within one at 6:36 of the third period, but
Columbus held the fort to snap its winless drought.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Jersey LW Mike Cammalleri saw his seven-game
point streak come to a halt. He collected six goals and three
assists in the run. ... Dubinsky, who returned after sitting out
three games, also missed the teams' first two meetings this season
but had two goals and five assists in four encounters in 2013-14.
... Tootoo's power-play goal was his fourth of the season and first
since 2011-12. ... Blue Jackets C Ryan Johansen went 13-of-18 on
faceoffs.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
