Devils 2, Blue Jackets 1 (SO)
Martin Brodeur stopped a 2-on-0 breakaway along with 35 shots and Ilya Kovalchuk and captain Zach Parise scored in the first two rounds of the shootout as the New Jersey Devils recorded a 2-1 victory over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
Dainius Zubrus had a goal in his third straight game as New Jersey won for the seventh time in its last 10 games - despite taking only three shots in the third period.
Jared Boll’s redirection of Marc Methot’s blast from the point at 6:01 of the third tied the game for Columbus (5-13-3), which has the NHL’s worst record. The Blue Jackets saw their first two-game winning streak since February come to an end.
The Blue Jackets peppered Brodeur with 17 shots in the third period.
Brodeur’s best play of the game didn’t result in a save when he foiled a 2-on-0 breakaway by poke-checking Rick Nash’s pass to Vinny Prospal on the doorstep early in the second period.
Moments later, Zubrus banged home a rebound of Adam Larsson’s shot from the point for his seventh goal at 4:09 of the second.
Patrik Elias also had an assist and has a point in four straight games, 11 of his last 12 and 17 of 20 games this season. The Devils have earned at least a point in all eight games against the Blue Jackets (6-0-1 with a tie).
Curtis Sanford made 23 saves and fell to 2-0-2 after his fourth straight start.