The New Jersey Devils stunned the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, erasing two periods of domination with three unanswered goals in just 1:56 early in the third period to secure a comeback win.
The loss marked a tough milestone for Columbus, snapping their perfect 11-0-4 record when leading after 40 minutes this season and ending a three-game winning streak.
The Blue Jackets continue to navigate adversity on the blue line, playing once again without All-Star defenseman Zach Werenski, who has been sidelined since December 20.
Game Summary
1st Period
Columbus opened the scoring at 6:18 of the first period, as Mason Marchment stayed red-hot and buried a rebound for his eighth goal of the season. The play started when Luke Hughes attempted to clear the puck, but it was intercepted by Dante Fabbro, who moved it to Kirill Marchenko. Marchenko’s shot was stopped by Jake Allen, but Marchment jumped on the loose puck and finished the play from in tight.
Marchment continues to make an immediate impact since joining Columbus. He now has six points (four goals, two assists) in his first five games with the Blue Jackets after being acquired from the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 19. Prior to the trade, he recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 29 games with Seattle. His current point streak to start a tenure with Columbus surpassed Zach Werenski (2016–17) and Antoine Vermette (2008–09) for the longest in franchise history.
The period also saw an injury concern for Columbus, as Miles Wood left the game at 8:25 after crashing awkwardly into the boards. Head coach Dean Evason said afterward, “It doesn’t look good.”
Both teams finished the opening period with 10 shots on goal. Columbus had one power-play opportunity but failed to convert and continues to struggle with the man advantage. The Blue Jackets are now 0-for-10 on the power play over their last three games.
2nd Period
Columbus turned up the pressure in the second period and controlled the pace for most of the frame. If not for several key saves by Devils goaltender Jake Allen, the Blue Jackets could have extended their lead by three or four goals.
The breakthrough finally came at 13:41, when veteran Charlie Coyle scored his sixth goal of the season. After a strong initial save by Allen on a shot from Boone Jenner, Coyle jumped on the rebound at the side of the crease and buried it to give Columbus a 2–0 lead.
Columbus continued to dictate play, outshooting New Jersey 18–12 in the period, but once again failed to capitalize on the power play. Despite multiple opportunities, the Blue Jackets were unable to convert with the man advantage.
At the other end, Jet Greaves remained solid, stopping everything he faced as Columbus carried a two-goal lead into the second intermission. After 40 minutes, the Blue Jackets appeared firmly in control, protecting a lead they had never lost in regulation this season, and positioning themselves for what looked like a potential fourth straight win.
3rd Period
Everything unraveled quickly for Columbus in the third period. Entering the night, the Blue Jackets had never lost a game in regulation when leading after two periods, but they also came in with a troubling –17 goal differential in third periods — a warning sign that surfaced again.
In just 1:56, the Devils erupted with three unanswered goals and completely flipped the game.
New Jersey started the comeback at 2:49 when Nico Hischier scored his 11th goal of the season on the power play. It marked the first power-play goal allowed by Columbus in four games and only the second goal against over their last 22 penalty kills.
Just 55 seconds later, Arseny Gritsyuk tied the game at 3:44 with his eighth goal of the season. The play began deep in the Devils’ zone, where Timo Meier picked up the puck, carried it end-to-end, and set up Gritsyuk for a clean wrist shot. Jet Greaves may have been partially screened by his own defense, but the shot came from over 40 feet out and was one he would likely want back.
The collapse was completed at 4:45, when Luke Hughes scored the game-winning goal. After New Jersey won the faceoff and kept the puck deep in the offensive zone, Hughes slipped unnoticed behind the Blue Jackets’ coverage. He received the puck near the back door and snapped a wrist shot over Greaves’ blocker for his fourth goal of the season and second point of the night.
That goal completely changed the game. Momentum shifted fully to New Jersey, who snapped their four-game losing streak, while Columbus had no response. The Blue Jackets managed just seven shots on goal in the third period, unable to recover from the sudden breakdown.
Inside the Locker Room
Dante Fabbro summed up the frustration felt throughout the room after the game.
“Honestly, I thought we deserved better,” Fabbro said. “We’ve got to get points somehow, and to have three goals go in in less than five minutes is unacceptable. At some point, we have to stop that kind of bleeding and then push back a little bit.
“I thought we controlled and played really well for the majority of the game, but again, we need results.”
Charlie Coyle echoed that sentiment, pointing to a brief lapse that proved costly.
“It’s a tough way to lose a hockey game. It stinks,” Coyle said. “It does seem like we took our foot off the gas a little bit. I think that’s safe to say. They put their foot on the gas, and that’s kind of the double whammy there.”
From behind the bench, head coach Dean Evason emphasized that he liked much of Columbus’ game, particularly through the first 40 minutes. He highlighted the team’s physical play, discipline, and structure, noting that the Blue Jackets stayed out of the penalty box and played the right way for most of the night.
Evason did not believe his team intentionally backed off physically in the third period. Instead, he credited New Jersey for moving the puck quicker, blowing zones, and getting past pressure. One breakdown stood out — Columbus getting three players deep, which resulted in a 4-on-2 rush against, something the team had successfully avoided earlier in the game.
Evason acknowledged that calling a timeout was an option, but with a TV timeout coming shortly after, the bench stayed composed. He stressed that good players make you pay when mistakes happen, and the Devils did exactly that.
Jet Greaves said the team was not surprised by the Devils’ push in the third period, especially knowing New Jersey was playing on the second night of a back-to-back. At 2–1, Columbus felt it had more energy, more legs, and control of the game.
From the players’ perspective, Boone Jenner and the group believed Columbus played 57 minutes of strong, physical, and structured hockey. The Blue Jackets felt they:
- Controlled the pace early
- Played the game the right way
- Used physicality at the right moments
- Forced turnovers without chasing or taking penalties
The third period was described as a double whammy — Columbus easing off slightly while New Jersey raised its intensity. That combination led to a short but costly stretch where the Devils capitalized.
The turning point came with an unusual power-play goal that quickly shifted momentum. Greaves admitted everything happened fast, with three goals coming in rapid succession. He took responsibility for the goals, noting traffic and deflections made reads difficult, but added, “It’s my job to keep pucks out of the net.”
Despite the collapse, Greaves felt the team pushed back late, created chances, and was beaten by strong saves and shot blocks. Overall, it was a frustrating loss, especially after playing well for most of the night.
Game Stats
| Stat | Devils | Blue Jackets |
| Shots on Goal | 33 | 35 |
| Faceoff % | 50.0% | 50.0% |
| Power Play | 1/1 (100%) | 0/3 (0%) |
| Penalty Minutes | 11 | 7 |
| Hits | 17 | 26 |
| Blocked Shots | 10 | 11 |
| Giveaways | 14 | 18 |
| Takeaways | 5 | 8 |
Three Stars of the Game
⭐ Luke Hughes (NJD)
G: 1 | A: 1 | P: 2
⭐⭐ Jake Allen (NJD)
GAA: 2.01 | SV%: .943
⭐⭐⭐ Charlie Coyle (CBJ)
G: 1 | A: 0 | P: 1
My Takeaway
Columbus played a strong hockey game, and everyone in the Blue Jackets’ room agreed on one thing: three minutes changed the outcome. For the other 57 minutes, Columbus controlled the play, played physical, limited quality chances, and dictated the pace. The turning point was the power-play goal early in the third period, which shifted momentum and ultimately decided the game.
Head coach Dean Evason is well aware that the third period continues to be an issue. Columbus now owns a –20 goal differential in third periods, and those missed opportunities have cost the team valuable points. That reality is a major reason why the Blue Jackets currently sit near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.
The absence of Zach Werenski continues to hurt the team’s overall play. Werenski averages over 25 minutes per game, and his impact is felt in all situations. Captain Boone Jenner acknowledged how difficult it has been without him, saying the team misses Werenski “terribly,” but also emphasized that the responsibility falls on the players to step up in his absence.
On the positive side, the acquisition of Mason Marchment is already paying off. Since joining Columbus, Marchment has recorded six points (four goals) in five games, contributing offensively every night and bringing immediate value to the lineup.
Despite the loss, Jet Greaves remains solid. This marked his first loss in his last four games (3-1-0) and his 20th appearance of the season. He has allowed three goals or fewer in 20 of his 26 starts, holds a 2.62 goals-against average, and continues to rank among the league’s top goaltenders in that category.
This game also marked Columbus’ final game of December and the 2025 calendar year. The Blue Jackets close the month with a 5-7-1 record, leaving points on the table but also showing signs of progress heading into the new year.
Next Game
The Blue Jackets return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2, when they host the Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM EDT.
Buffalo enters the matchup red-hot, riding a 10-game winning streak.
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