NHL Roundup: Devils & Islanders Both Lose on the Road
After blitzing the Vancouver Canucks 7-2 on Monday night, the Devils lost a 4-3 heart-breaker in Columbus on Tuesday.
For the second straight night Jack Hughes gave New Jersey the early lead on an unassisted power play goal to give the Devils a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game. Columbus turned around and scored three straight goals, two of them in the final seven minutes of the first period.
Power Play goal scored by everyone.#NJDevils | @PSEGDelivers pic.twitter.com/uaAgGRroYF
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 2, 2022
Jake Christiansen and Oliver Bjorkstrand netted the first two for Columbus within a span of four minutes to give the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead. Then 46 seconds into the second period, Boone Jenner lit the lamp with his 23rd goal of the year on a power play.
Give Jersey credit for fighting back. Nico Hirschier’s goal off a screen from Damon Severson with four minutes remaining in the second period, cut the Jackets lead to 3-2.
Palmieri taps it home. pic.twitter.com/PJlrZ56LrQ
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 2, 2022
However, Patrick Laine wasted little time icing the contest with his 20th goal of the year 1:18 into the third period to make it 4-2.
Meanwhile, the New York Islanders struggled to contain the best team in the NHL over in the Mile High City, falling to the Avalanche 5-3.
While the victory gave the Avalanche their league-leading 40th win of the year, it was not like the Islanders didn’t have a chance to pull out the upset. New York tied the game twice on goals by Ryan Pulock and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and even grabbed a 3-2 lead on a goal by Kyle Palmieri late in the second period.
Unfortunately for New York, Colorado stormed back after the second intermission, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period to stun the Isles 5-3.
Gabriel Landeskog tied it up at three on a power play goal about five minutes into the period. Eight minutes later, Andre Burakovsky put Colorado out in front for good when he tapped in his 17th goal of the season to make it 4-3.
The Islanders (20-22-8) inconsistent struggles continue, having now lost three of its last four games.
