Johnson’s OT goal lifts Blue Jackets over Devils 3-2
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Jack Johnson's backhander 56 seconds into overtime lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets past the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to seven.
It was the Devils' sixth straight loss (0-5-1). New Jersey has scored seven goals during the skid.
Brandon Dubinsky scored on a penalty shot, Nick Foligno had a power-play goal, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves as the Blue Jackets matched a season-high for consecutive wins.
Ryan Johansen had two assists, giving him at least one in seven straight games - one off the franchise mark. His overall point streak is eight games (3-8-11).
On the winning goal, Johnson skated from left wing through the slot and flipped a shot that got through traffic and by Cory Schneider for the winner.
Mike Cammalleri scored a power-play goal in the first period and added a short-handed tally with 2:29 left in regulation for New Jersey. Schneider had 28 saves. Eric Gelinas added two assists.
Dubinsky, who had never scored on a penalty shot in 538 NHL games, got the chance after took a rebound off a nice save by Bobrovsky and went in alone. He was slashed by Stefan Matteau as he released his shot.
On the penalty shot, Dubinsky worked his way from the right wing to beat Schneider with a wrist shot on the glove side at 4:44 of the second period.
Schneider had stopped eight of nine previous penalty shots.
That goal gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead. It stayed that way until a wild final few minutes.
With Columbus on the power play, the Devils forged a tie. Gelinas' stretch pass found Dainius Zubrus alone in the neutral zone. He swooped in unimpeded on Bobrovsky and got off a shot. He then whacked at the rebound, but Bobrovsky made both stops.
Zubrus didn't give up on the play from the back wall. He gathered the puck and ramped a pass off a defender's stick that popped over the edge of the net. Cammalleri was there to get a stick on the puck and it squirted in as Bobrovsky tried to cover the post.
Johnson then won it on a seemingly innocent shot from the slot.
The Blue Jackets have outscored opponents 30-16 during their streak. They have also set a record for most wins in March, going 11-4.
The Devils, who hadn't lost six in a row since October 2013, scored in the final minute of the first.
On their second power play, the Devils twice fed Cammalleri on the right wing. He whiffed on the first one-timer, and some fans razzed him. But then Gelinas at the point came right back to him, and his rocket from the right dot found the net for his 26th goal.
The Blue Jackets scored twice in the second.
With only a few seconds left with the man advantage, Alexander Wennberg held the puck in the right circle, waited for Foligno to get in position and then slid a pass just wide of the goal that Foligno redirected for his 27th goal.
NOTES: Columbus RW Jared Boll served the third and final game of the suspension he was given for a high hit on Anaheim's Patrick Maroon. ... The Blue Jackets activated LW Matt Calvert from the injured list. ... D Andy Greene, who has played in all 77 games for New Jersey, is a product of Miami (Ohio). He received a warm reception during introductions. ... Devils assistant coach Mike Foligno had dinner last night at the home of a Blue Jackets player, his son Nick. ... The Devils will play three of their final five games on the road. The Blue Jackets have four of their final six at home.
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