Devils Earn Point in Shootout Setback to Columbus | GAME STORY

The Devils earned a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus Sunday night at Prudential Center.
New Jersey watched a 3-2 third-period lead slip away with 5:25 remaining in regulation on their second half of back-to-back games, but still earned a point in the standings.
The Devils goal scorers were Andreas Johnsson, Dawson Mercer and Dougie Hamilton.
Columbus goals came from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner (tying goal).

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The Devils hit the road for a three-game road trip to California. It starts Tuesday night in Anaheim. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 10:08 p.m. ET.
Here are some observations from the game...
- The Andreas Johnsson Redemption Tour continues. After scoring just five goals in 50 games during the 2020-21 season, a dejected Johnsson said he wanted to "show more offense" in his game this year. So far, he's put those words into action.

Johnsson has nearly equaled his entire goal total from last season in just seven games after picking up his fourth of the year, and third in two games, with the game's opening goal 67 seconds into the game.

The Swede set himself up in the slot and received a nice Jesper Bratt feed, from below the goal line, and snapped it into the goal. His willingness to go to the net and his improved efforts in puck battles have really been critical to his success.

- Dawson Mercer is a rookie. He's played a mere seven games. As such, he will make the occasional mistake. With the Devils in control in the opening period, Mercer took an ill-advised offensive zone tripping penalty. The Blue Jackets scored on the subsequent power play and would eventually take a 2-1 lead.

But mistakes are part of the game. The question is: how do you react to those mistakes and make amends. Mercer responded with his usual hustle and effort, but also added a goal a huge goal to help reclaim the momentum. While down low in the zone, Mercer collected the puck below the goal line and somehow managed to sneak a wraparound through goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Devils would follow up with another goal 1:19 later to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

It's that effort to make-up for mistakes, and to make a difference regardless, are why the coaching staff have so much faith in Mercer despite his age.

"He understands that you don't want to take penalties. He's taken quite a few," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "You have to love the kid's game. He likes playing the game, playing around the net. That line was good again. That line early on carried us."

- Ruff said Saturday morning that he wanted the team's defense to get more engaged in the offense, especially the team's more offensively gifted blueliners. His D corps delivered last evening against Pittsburgh, jumping into the play, joining the rush and pinching in the zone to help out.

The crew carried that over against Columbus. The defensemen, Dougie Hamilton and P.K. Subban in particular, were very active in the offensive zone. Subban led the rush and gained the offensive zone on a sequence that led to New Jersey's first goal. When Mercer scored for the Devils, they had Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler at the net (though Siegenthaler was technically in a forward position after exiting the penalty box). And Hamilton pinched to the top of the circle for his one-timer goal in the second period. The common theme is a more activated defensive group that has created mismatches and numbers while applying pressure.

"I think that's a big part of our offense, getting those guys to get pucks to the net, the last two nights we are around 40 shots," Ruff said. "We do that, we're going to generate a lot more goals."

- Speaking of Subban, he's been one of the team's better players in the past two games. He's making the right reads (when to jump or when to back off), has used his skating ability to create chances or maintain the zone and has been rewarded with three assists and a plus-3 in the past two contests.

"I've liked my game right from the start of the season," Subban said. "I just try to go out there and play sound hockey. I'm a two-way player. Obviously, I want to generate offense and I love to do that."

- The Devils had two incredible opportunities late in the third period with a pair of power plays, including 34 seconds of a 5-on-3, to break the 3-3 tie. However, the club failed to convert with all that time.

"It's definitely frustrating. I want us to score goals," Subban said. "We have to find ways to score. As the season goes on, the power play and special teams is what determines games. If we want to be a playoff team we have to be good in that area."