New Jersey Collapses in Third Period En Route to Shutout Loss Against Columbus

Published: Wednesday, February 4, 2026

by Liam Page

NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils (28-26-2) fell 3-0 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-7), after the game went into the third period knotted up at zero. 

The first period was filled with each team testing each other out, and the Blue Jackets appeared to be the first to break the ice, but the goal was wiped off after Coach Sheldon Keefe successfully challenged for goaltender interference. 

Late in the first period, New Jersey would go on a power play after Columbus forward Mason Marchment was called for a tripping penalty, but the Devils would be unable to do anything in the remaining 1:35 of the first on the man advantage, leaving the score 0-0. 

On the other side of the intermission, the Devils could not manufacture any offense in the remaining 25 seconds of power play.

Throughout the rest of the second period, the Devils had many great chances but were unable to put the puck in the back of the net. New Jersey got another chance at the power play midway through the second but were once again unable to capitalize. 

The Blue Jackets would get their first power play opportunity with 2:05 remaining in the second off of a hold by Arseny Gritsyuk, but the Devils penalty kill stifled the Blue Jackets man advantage. Once again, the teams would head to the locker room tied at zero. 

Early in the third period, the Devils would go on the power play, but it would quickly be wiped out when Nico Hischier was called for a tripping minor off a Blue Jackets breakaway.

The Devils managed to kill the power play but just minutes later Dante Fabbro would put one past New Jersey netminder, Jacob Markstrom, for the first goal of the game giving Columbus a 1-0 lead. 

Later in the third, a defensive miscommunication allowed Mathieu Olivier to break free and to score on a 1-on-1 opportunity with Markstrom, making it 2-0 in favor of Columbus. 

The Devils decided to pull Markstrom for the extra attacker with 4:50 remaining in the third, but this simply just was not New Jersey’s night, as another lapse on defense allowed Olivier to sneak past several Devils and be credited with the empty netter after Dougie Hamilton was called for slashing his stick. 

The Devils' loss tonight puts them nine points behind the Islanders and 10 points off of the wild card race, making their playoff hopes look slim this late in the season.  New Jersey will play their final game before the Olympic break at home against the Islanders on Thursday, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.

Liam Page can be reached at liam.page@student.shu.edu.

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