The Columbus Blue Jackets will face the New Jersey Devils tonight at 7 p.m. at the Prudential Center. The Devils have been performing well recently, holding a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games and winning three of their last four. They currently lead the Metropolitan Division with a 16-8-1 record and 33 points.
The Blue Jackets have struggled to consistently score points, particularly during a tough November where they went 5-5-5. Despite this, they remain only six points behind the Devils and have a chance to close the gap with a strong performance tonight. Notably, Columbus lost a third-period lead in seven of their 15 November games, finishing those with a 2-1-4 record, including two penalty shootout wins. Their offense and defense ranks in the NHL show room for improvement, with power play success at 15.5% (27th), penalty kill at 75.4% (27th), goals scored at 70 (26th), and goals against at 81 (22nd).
In contrast, the Devils’ stats are stronger, with a 23.8% power play success (7th), an 83.3% penalty kill rate (8th), 78 goals scored (11th), and 74 goals against (14th).
Historically, Columbus has a slightly favorable record against New Jersey overall (29-22-1-3) and at home (12-10-1-3), but recently they have struggled, going 2-8-1 in their last 11 meetings and 0-1 against them this season.
Key players for the Devils include Dawson Mercer, who leads with 10 goals, Jesper Bratt with 19 assists and 24 points, and goaltender Jake Allen, who has an 8-4-0 record with a .919 save percentage. The Blue Jackets’ players to watch are Zach Werenski (4-5-9 in 25 games versus the Devils), Charlie Coyle with nine points in 35 games, and Sean Monahan, who has scored 25 points in 21 games against New Jersey.
The Blue Jackets are dealing with injuries, including Erik Gudbranson (upper body, no return date), Boone Jenner (upper body, possible return this week), Kirill Marchenko (lower body, day-to-day), and Mathieu Olivier (upper body, no return planned). They have lost a total of 43 man-games so far this season.
Tonight’s game can be watched on FanDuel Sports Network with Steve Mears on commentary, and the radio broadcast is available on 97.1 Fan with Bob McElligott.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights the intense competition within the Metro Division and the resilience of teams like Columbus, who despite setbacks, still have a shot at the top spot. For hockey fans, tonight’s game could be crucial in reshaping the division standings and providing exciting, high-stakes action as the season progresses.
