After stringing together consecutive wins for the first time all season, the Columbus Blue Jackets came ever so close to extending its winning streak to three games, but instead fell in a shootout 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
The Blue Jackets tied the game at 1-1 when enforcer Jared Boll scored his first goal of the season 6:01 into the third period. Boll's goal was a fortuitous one for Columbus, as it caromed off his skate as he stood in the crease in and slid into the goal, and it held up after reviewing because it was determined that he did not use a kicking motion. But Columbus probably deserved one to go in anyway, as they dominated the third period while outshooting New Jersey 17-3.
After neither team broke through in overtime, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise scored in the shootout for the Devils and Martin Brodeur, who saved 35 shots during the game, blocked shots by Rick Nash and Mark Letestu to secure the win for New Jersey.
Columbus now returns home to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, but getting back on the winning track will be no easy task as the Sabres actually boast a far better record on the road (7-2-0) than they do at home (5-6-1).