NEWARK, NJ - Timo Meier found the back of the net during overtime as the New Jersey Devils continue to be the comeback kids and steal two more points against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
What seemed to be a low scoring game as it was 2-1 for the majority of the game, ended up being a thriller with three goals scored in the last minutes of regulation and one in overtime.
Jake Bean, Blue Jackets forward, gave his team a 1-0 lead during the first period. Just a few minutes later the Devils were able to kill off an Ondrej Palat penalty. Nine seconds after the penalty expired Palat tied it 1-1.
During the second period, the Blue Jackets were the only team to score, giving them a 2-1 lead courtesy of Justin Danforth.
The third period seemed to have the ice tilted the Devils way, but were unable to find the back of the net for most of the period.
Rookie Simon Nemec found Dawson Mercer at the high slot where Mercer was able to hit a one timer past Elvis Merzlikins, tying the game 2-2 with less than five minutes left in the third period.
It looked like the score was going to remain 2-2 and the Devils and Blue Jackets would head to overtime, but the Devils never seemed to have a normal game.
Yegor Chinakhov put the Blue Jackets up 3-2 with just under three minutes left in the game, many thought that would be the nail in the coffin.
Luke Hughes skated end-to-end, through all of the Blue Jackets’ players and nailed one past Merzlikins to tie the game with 30 seconds left in the third period.
Timo Stays Hot
Meier continued to be hot, scoring four goals in his last three games after going on a rough patch, and found the back of the net in overtime to give the Devils the win.
Vitek Vanecek faced a total of 29 shots, allowing three in.
The Devils power play went 0/3 on the night, something they have been struggling with lately, but fortunately the penalty kill went 3/3.
The Devils will travel to Ottawa to take on the Senators on Dec. 29 at 7:00 p.m. and look to remain in the win column.
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